CHAPTER 21 - PROBATION, PAROLE AND PARDON
Title 24 - Corrections, Jails, Probations, Paroles and Pardons
CHAPTER 21.
PROBATION, PAROLE AND PARDON
ARTICLE 1.
BOARD OF PROBATION, PAROLE, AND PARDON SERVICES
SECTION 24-21-10. Department of Probation, Parole and Pardon Services; Board of Probation, Parole and Pardon Services; board members; term; appointment; filing vacancies.
(A) The Department of Probation, Parole, and Pardon Services, hereafter referred to as the "department", is governed by the director of the department. The director must be appointed by the Governor with the advice and consent of the Senate.
(B) The Board of Probation, Parole, and Pardon Services is composed of seven members. The terms of office of the members are for six years. Six of the seven members must be appointed from each of the congressional districts and one member must be appointed at large. Vacancies must be filled by gubernatorial appointment with the advice and consent of the Senate for the unexpired term. If a vacancy occurs during a recess of the Senate, the Governor may fill the vacancy by appointment for the unexpired term pending the consent of the Senate, provided the appointment is received for confirmation on the first day of the Senate's next meeting following the vacancy. A chairman must be elected annually by a majority of the membership of the board. The chairman may serve consecutive terms.
(C) The Governor shall deliver an appointment within sixty days of the expiration of a term, if an individual is being reappointed, or within ninety days of the expiration of a term, if an individual is an initial appointee. If a board member who is being reappointed is not confirmed within sixty days of receipt of the appointment by the Senate, the appointment is considered rejected. For an initial appointee, if confirmation is not made within ninety days of receipt of the appointment by the Senate, the appointment is deemed rejected. The Senate may by resolution extend the period after which an appointment is considered rejected. If the failure of the Senate to confirm an appointee would result in the lack of a quorum of board membership, the seat for which confirmation is denied or rejected shall not be considered when determining if a quorum of board membership exists.
SECTION 24-21-11. Removal of director or member.
The director and members of the board shall be subject to removal by the Governor pursuant to the provisions of Section 1-3-240.
SECTION 24-21-12. Compensation of board members.
The members of the board shall draw no salaries, but each member shall be entitled to such per diem as may be authorized by law for boards, commissions, and committees, plus actual and necessary expenses incurred pursuant to the discharge of official duties.
SECTION 24-21-13. Director to oversee department; development of written policies and procedures; board's duty to consider cases for parole, etc.
(A) It is the duty of the director to oversee, manage, and control the department. The director shall develop written policies and procedures for the following:
(1) the supervising of offenders on probation, parole, community supervision, and other offenders released from incarceration prior to the expiration of their sentence;
(2) the consideration of paroles and pardons and the supervision of offenders in the community supervision program, and other offenders released from incarceration prior to the expiration of their sentence. The requirements for an offender's participation in the community supervision program and an offender's progress toward completing the program are to be decided administratively by the Department of Probation, Parole, and Pardon Services. No inmate or future inmate shall have a "liberty interest" or an "expectancy of release" while in a community supervision program administered by the department;
(3) the operation of community-based correctional programs; and
(4) the operation of public work sentence programs for offenders as provided in item (1) of this subsection. This program also may be utilized as an alternative to technical revocations. The director shall establish priority programs for litter control along state and county highways. This must be included in the "public service work" program.
(B) It is the duty of the board to consider cases for parole, pardon, and any other form of clemency provided for under law.
SECTION 24-21-30. Meetings; parole and pardon panels.
(A) A person who commits a "no parole offense" as defined in Section 24-13-100 on or after the effective date of this section is not eligible for parole consideration, but must complete a community supervision program as set forth in Section 24-21-560 prior to discharge from the sentence imposed by the court. For all offenders who are eligible for parole, the board shall hold regular meetings, as may be necessary to carry out its duties, but at least four times each year, and as many extra meetings as the chairman, or the Governor acting through the chairman, may order. The board may preserve order at its meetings and punish any disrespect or contempt committed in its presence. The chairman may direct the members of the board to meet as three-member panels to hear matters relating to paroles and pardons as often as necessary to carry out the board's responsibilities. Membership on these panels shall be periodically rotated on a random basis by the chairman. At the meetings of the panels, any unanimous vote shall be considered the final decision of the board, and the panel may issue an order of parole with the same force and effect of an order issued by the full board pursuant to Section 24-21-650. Any vote that is not unanimous shall not be considered as a decision of the board, and the matter shall be referred to the full board which shall decide it based on a vote of a majority of the membership.
(B) The board may grant parole to an offender who commits a violent crime as defined in Section 16-1-60 which is not included as a "no parole offense" as defined in Section 24-13-100 on or after the effective date of this section by a two-thirds majority vote of the full board. The board may grant parole to an offender convicted of an offense which is not a violent crime as defined in Section 16-1-60 or a "no parole offense" as defined in Section 24-13-100 by a unanimous vote of a three-member panel or by a majority vote of the full board.
Nothing in this subsection may be construed to allow any person who commits a "no parole offense" as defined in Section 24-13-100 on or after the effective date of this section to be eligible for parole.
(C) The board shall conduct all parole hearings in cases that relate to a single victim on the same day.
(D) Upon the request of a victim, the board may allow the victim and an offender to appear simultaneously before the board for the purpose of providing testimony.
SECTION 24-21-35. Administrative recommendations available to victim prior to parole hearing.
The Department of Probation, Parole and Pardon Services Board shall make its administrative recommendations available to a victim of a crime before it conducts a parole hearing for the perpetrator of the crime.
SECTION 24-21-40. Record of proceedings.
The Board shall keep a complete record of all its proceedings and hold it subject to the order of the Governor or the General Assembly.
SECTION 24-21-50. Hearings, arguments, and appearances by counsel or individuals.
The board shall grant hearings and permit arguments and appearances by counsel or any individual before it at any such hearing while considering a case for parole, pardon, or any other form of clemency provided for under law. No inmate has a right of confrontation at the hearing.
SECTION 24-21-55. Hearing fee.
The Department of Probation, Parole and Pardon Services shall receive a hearing fee under a plan approved by the Budget and Control Board.
SECTION 24-21-60. Cooperation of public agencies and officials; surveys.
Each city, county, or state official or department shall assist and cooperate to further the objectives of this chapter. The board, the director of the department, and the probation agents may seek the cooperation of officials and departments and especially of the sheriffs, jailers, magistrates, police officials, and institutional officers. The director may conduct surveys of state correctional facilities, county jails, and camps and obtain information to enable the board to pass intelligently upon all applications for parole. The Director of the Department of Corrections and the wardens, jailers, sheriffs, supervisors, or other officers in whose control a prisoner may be committed must aid and assist the director and the probation agents in the surveys.
SECTION 24-21-70. Records of prisoners.
The Director of the Department of Corrections, when a prisoner is confined in the State Penitentiary, the sheriff of the county, when a person is confined in the county jail, and the county supervisor or chairman of the governing body of the county if there is no county supervisor, when a prisoner is confined upon a work detail of a county, must keep a record of the industry, habits, and deportment of the prisoner, as well as other information requested by the board or the director and furnish it to them upon request.
SECTION 24-21-80. Probationers and parolees to pay supervision fee; intensive supervision fee; hardship exemption; delinquencies; substitution of public service.
An adult placed on probation, parole, or community supervision shall pay a regular supervision fee toward offsetting the cost of his supervision for so long as he remains under supervision. The regular supervision fee must be determined by the Department of Probation, Parole, and Pardon Services based upon the ability of the person to pay. The fee must be not less than twenty dollars nor more than one hundred dollars per month. The fee is due on the date of sentencing or as soon as determined by the department and each subsequent anniversary for the duration of the supervision period. The department shall remit from the fees collected an amount not to exceed the regular supervision fees collected during fiscal year 1992-93 for credit to the State General Fund. All regular supervision fees collected in excess of the fiscal year 1992-93 amount must be retained by the department, carried forward, and applied to the department's operation. The payment of the fee must be a condition of probation, parole, or community supervision, and a delinquency of two months or more in making payments may operate as a revocation.
If a probationer is placed under intensive supervision by a court of competent jurisdiction, or if the board places a parolee under intensive supervision, or if an inmate who is participating in the Supervised Furlough Program is placed under intensive supervision, or if a person participating in a community supervision program is placed under intensive supervision, the probationer, parolee, inmate, or community supervisee is required to pay not less than ten dollars nor more than thirty dollars each week for the duration of intensive supervision in lieu of the regular supervision fee. The intensive supervision fee must be determined by the department based upon the ability of the person to pay. Fees derived from persons under intensive supervision must be retained by the department, carried forward, and applied to the department's operation. The department may exempt any individual supervised by the department on any community supervision program from the payment of a part or all of the yearly or weekly fee during any part or all of the supervision period only if the department determines that exceptional circumstances exist such that these payments work a severe hardship on the individual. Delinquencies of two months or more in payment of a reduced fee operates in the same manner as delinquencies for the full amount. The department may substitute public service employment for supervision fees when it considers the same to be in the best interest of the State and the individual.
SECTION 24-21-85. Electronic monitoring fees.
Every person placed on electronic monitoring must be assessed a fee to be determined by the Department of Probation, Parole and Pardon Services in accordance with Section 24-21-80, as long as he remains in the electronic monitoring program. The payment of the fee must be a condition of supervision of any program administered by the department and a delinquency of two months or more in making payments may operate as a revocation. All fees generated by this assessment must be retained by the department to support the electronic monitoring program and carried forward for the same purpose.
SECTION 24-21-87. Extradition and maintenance polygraph fees.
(A) The department may charge offenders a fee based on the number of miles and length of time required to perform an extradition. The fee must be used to offset the cost of extradition. All unexpended revenues of this fee at year end must be retained and carried forward by the department and expended for the same purpose.
(B) The department may charge a fee to offenders required to have maintenance polygraphs. This fee may not exceed the actual cost of the maintenance polygraph. All unexpended revenues of this fee at year end must be retained and carried forward by the department and expended for the same purpose.
SECTION 24-21-90. Account and receipt for fee payments; deposit of funds.
Each supervising agent shall keep an accurate account of the money he collects pursuant to Sections 24-21-80, 24-23-210(B), and 24-23-220 and shall give a receipt to the probationer and individual under supervision for each payment. Money collected must be forwarded to the board and deposited in the state treasury.
ARTICLE 3.
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE DEPARTMENT OF PROBATION, PAROLE, AND PARDON SERVICES; PROBATION OFFICERS
SECTION 24-21-220. Powers and duties of director.
The director is vested with the exclusive management and control of the department and is responsible for the management of the department and for the proper care, treatment, supervision, and management of offenders under its control. The director shall manage and control the department and it is the duty of the director to carry out the policies of the department. The director is responsible for scheduling board meetings, assuring that the proper cases and investigations are prepared for the board, maintaining the board's official records, and performing other administrative duties relating to the board's activities. The director must employ within his office such personnel as may be necessary to carry out his duties and responsibilities including the functions of probation, parole, and community supervision, community-based programs, financial management, research and planning, staff development and training, and internal audit. The director shall make annual written reports to the board, the Governor, and the General Assembly providing statistical and other information pertinent to the department's activities.
SECTION 24-21-221. Notice of hearing to consider parole; to whom required.
The director must give a thirty-day written notice of any board hearing during which the board will consider parole for a prisoner to the following persons:
(1) any victim of the crime who suffered damage to his person as a result thereof or if such victim is deceased, to members of his immediate family to the extent practicable;
(2) the solicitor who prosecuted the prisoner or his successor in the jurisdiction in which the crime was prosecuted; and
(3) the law enforcement agency that was responsible for the arrest of the prisoner concerned.
SECTION 24-21-230. Employment of probation agents and clerical assistants; examinations; training.
The director must employ probation agents required for service in the State and clerical assistants as necessary. The probation agents must take and pass psychological and qualifying examinations as directed by the director. The director must ensure that each probation agent receives adequate training. Until the initial employment requirements are met, no person may take the oath of a probation agent nor exercise the authority granted to them.
SECTION 24-21-235. Issuance of duty clothing to department employees.
The Department of Probation, Parole and Pardon Services is authorized to issue duty clothing for the use of department employees.
SECTION 24-21-237. Employee meals.
Meals may be provided to employees of the department who are not permitted to leave duty stations and are required to work during deployments, actual emergencies, emergency simulation exercises, and when the Governor declares a state of emergency.
SECTION 24-21-240. Oath of probation agents.
Each person appointed as a probation agent must take an oath of office as required of state officers which must be noted of record by the clerk of court.
SECTION 24-21-250. Pay and expenses of probation agents.
The probation agents must be paid salaries, to be fixed by the department, payable semimonthly, and also be paid traveling and other necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their official duties when the expense accounts have been authorized and approved by the director.
SECTION 24-21-260. Probation agents' assignment locations.
Probation agents appointed under Section 24-21-230 must be assigned to serve in courts or districts or other places the director may determine.
SECTION 24-21-270. Offices for probation agents.
The governing body of each county in which a probation agent serves shall provide, in or near the courthouse, suitable office space for such agent.
SECTION 24-21-280. Duties and powers of probation agents; authority to enforce criminal laws.
(A) A probation agent must investigate all cases referred to him for investigation by the judges or director and report in writing. He must furnish to each person released on probation, parole, or community supervision under his supervision a written statement of the conditions of probation, parole, or community supervision and must instruct him regarding them. He must keep informed concerning the conduct and condition of each person on probation, parole, or community supervision under his supervision by visiting, requiring reports, and in other ways, and must report in writing as often as the court or director may require. He must use practicable and suitable methods to aid and encourage persons on probation, parole, or community supervision to bring about improvement in their conduct and condition. A probation agent must keep detailed records of his work, make reports in writing, and perform other duties as the director may require.
(B) A probation agent has, in the execution of his duties, the power to issue an arrest warrant or a citation charging a violation of conditions of supervision, the powers of arrest, and, to the extent necessary, the same right to execute process given by law to sheriffs. A probation agent has the power and authority to enforce the criminal laws of the State. In the performance of his duties of probation, parole, community supervision, and investigation, he is regarded as the official representative of the court, the department, and the board.
SECTION 24-21-290. Information received by probation agents privileged.
All information and data obtained in the discharge of his official duty by a probation agent is privileged information, is not receivable as evidence in a court, and may not be disclosed directly or indirectly to anyone other than the judge or others entitled under this chapter to receive reports unless ordered by the court or the director.
SECTION 24-21-300. Issuance of citation to person released pursuant to Offender Management Systems Act for violation of release terms.
At any time during a period of supervision, a probation agent, instead of issuing a warrant, may issue a written citation and affidavit setting forth that the probationer, parolee, or community supervision releasee, or a person released or furloughed under the Offender Management Systems Act in the agent's judgment violates the conditions of his release or suspended sentence. The citation must be directed to the probationer, the parolee, the community supervision releasee, or the person released or furloughed, and must require him to appear at a specified time, date, and court or other place, and must state the charges. The citation must set forth the person's rights and contain a statement that a hearing will be held in his absence if he fails to appear and that he may be imprisoned as a result of his absence. The citation may be served by a law enforcement officer upon the request of a probation agent. A certificate of service is sufficient proof of service. The issuance of a citation or warrant during the period of supervision gives jurisdiction to the court and the board at any hearing on the violation.
ARTICLE 5.
PROBATION
SECTION 24-21-410. Power to suspend sentence and impose probation; exceptions.
After conviction or plea for any offense, except a crime punishable by death or life imprisonment, the judge of a court of record with criminal jurisdiction at the time of sentence may suspend the imposition or the execution of a sentence and place the defendant on probation or may impose a fine and also place the defendant on probation. Probation is a form of clemency.
SECTION 24-21-420. Report of probation agent on offense and defendant.
When directed by the court, the probation agent must fully investigate and report to the court in writing the circumstances of the offense and the criminal record, social history, and present condition of the defendant including, whenever practicable, the findings of a physical and mental examination of the defendant. When the services of a probation agent are available to the court, no defendant charged with a felony and, unless the court shall direct otherwise in individual cases, no other defendant may be placed on probation or released under suspension of sentence until the report of such investigation has been presented to and considered by the court.
SECTION 24-21-430. Conditions of probation.
The court may impose by order duly entered and may at any time modify the conditions of probation and may include among them any of the following or any other condition not prohibited in this section. To effectively supervise probationers, the director shall develop policies and procedures for imposing conditions of supervision on probationers. These conditions may enhance but must not diminish court imposed conditions.
The probationer shall:
(1) refrain from the violations of any state or federal penal laws;
(2) avoid injurious or vicious habits;
(3) avoid persons or places of disreputable or harmful character;
(4) permit the probation agent to visit at his home or elsewhere;
(5) work faithfully at suitable employment as far as possible;
(6) pay a fine in one or several sums as directed by the court;
(7) perform public service work as directed by the court;
(8) submit to a urinalysis or a blood test or both upon request of the probation agent;
(9) submit to curfew restrictions;
(10) submit to house arrest which is confinement in a residence for a period of twenty-four hours a day, with only those exceptions as the court may expressly grant in its discretion;
(11) submit to intensive surveillance which may include surveillance by electronic means;
(12) support his dependents; and
(13) follow the probation agent's instructions and advice regarding recreational and social activities.
SECTION 24-21-440. Period of probation.
The period of probation or suspension of sentence shall not exceed a period of five years and shall be determined by the judge of the court and may be continued or extended within the above limit.
SECTION 24-21-450. Arrest for violation of terms of probation; bond.
At any time during the period of probation or suspension of sentence the court, or the court within the venue of which the violation occurs, or the probation agent may issue or cause the issuing of a warrant and cause the defendant to be arrested for violating any of the conditions of probation or suspension of sentence. Any police officer or other agent with power of arrest, upon the request of the probation agent, may arrest a probationer. In case of an arrest, the arresting officer or agent must have a written warrant from the probation agent setting forth that the probationer has, in his judgment, violated the conditions of probation, and such statement shall be warrant for the detention of such probationer in the county jail or other appropriate place of detention, until such probationer can be brought before the judge of the court or of the court within the venue of which the violation occurs. Such probation agent must forthwith report such arrest and detention to the judge of the court, or of the court within the venue of which the violation occurs, and submit in writing a report showing in what manner the probationer has violated his probation. Provided, that any person arrested for the violation of the terms of probation must be entitled to be released on bond pending a hearing, and such bond shall be granted and the amount thereof determined by a magistrate in the county where the probationer is confined or by the magistrate in whose jurisdiction the alleged violation of probation occurred.
SECTION 24-21-460. Action of court in case of violation of terms of probation.
Upon such arrest the court, or the court within the venue of which the violation occurs, shall cause the defendant to be brought before it and may revoke the probation or suspension of sentence and shall proceed to deal with the case as if there had been no probation or suspension of sentence except that the circuit judge before whom such defendant may be so brought shall have the right, in his discretion, to require the defendant to serve all or a portion only of the sentence imposed. Should only a portion of the sentence imposed be put into effect, the remainder of such sentence shall remain in full force and effect and the defendant may again, from time to time, be brought before the circuit court so long as all of his sentence has not been served and the period of probation has not expired.
SECTION 24-21-480. Restitution Center program; distribution of offenders' salaries.
The judge may suspend a sentence for a defendant convicted of a nonviolent offense, as defined in Section 16-1-70, for which imprisonment of more than ninety days may be imposed, or as a revocation of probation, and may place the offender in a restitution center as a condition of probation. The board may place a prisoner in a restitution center as a condition of parole. The department, on the first day of each month, shall present to the general sessions court a report detailing the availability of bed space in the restitution center program. The restitution center is a program under the jurisdiction of the department.
The offender must have paid employment and/or be required to perform public service employment up to a total of fifty hours per week.
The offender must deliver his salary to the restitution center staff who must distribute it in the following manner:
(1) restitution to the victim or payment to the account established pursuant to the Victims of Crime Act of 1984, Public Law 98-473, Title II, Chapter XIV, Section 1404, as ordered by the court;
(2) payment of child support or alimony or other sums as ordered by a court;
(3) payment of any fines or court fees due;
(4) payment of a daily fee for housing and food. This fee may be set by the department with the approval of the State Budget and Control Board. The fee must be based on the offender's ability to pay not to exceed the actual costs. This fee must be deposited by the department with the State Treasurer for credit to the same account as funds collected under Sections 14-1-210 through 14-1-230;
(5) payment of any costs incurred while in the restitution center;
(6) if available, fifteen dollars per week for personal items.
The remainder must be deposited and given to the offender upon his discharge.
The offender must be in the restitution center for not more than six months, nor less than three months; provided, however, in those cases where the maximum term is less than one year the offender must be in the restitution center for not more than ninety days nor less than forty-five days.
Upon release from the restitution center, the offender must be placed on probation for a term as ordered by the court.
Failure to comply with program requirements may result in a request to the court to revoke the suspended sentence.
No person must be made ineligible for this program by reason of gender.
SECTION 24-21-485. Authority of Department of Probation, Parole, and Pardon Services with respect to establishment and maintenance of restitution centers.
In order for the department to establish and maintain restitution centers, the director may:
(1) develop policies and procedures for the operation of restitution centers;
(2) fund other management options advantageous to the State including, but not limited to, contracting with public or nonpublic entities for management of restitution centers;
(3) lease buildings;
(4) develop standards for disciplinary rules to be imposed on residents of restitution centers;
(5) develop standards for the granting of emergency furloughs to participants.
SECTION 24-21-490. Collection and distribution of restitution.
(A) The Department of Probation, Parole and Pardon Services shall collect and distribute restitution on a monthly basis from all offenders under probationary and intensive probationary supervision.
(B) Notwithstanding Section 14-17-725, the department shall assess a collection fee of twenty percent of each restitution program and deposit this collection fee into a separate account. The department shall maintain individual restitution accounts that reflect each transaction and the amount paid, the collection fee, and the unpaid balance of the account. A summary of these accounts must be reported to the Governor's Office, the President of the Senate, the Speaker of the House, the Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, and the Chairman of the Senate Corrections and Penology Committee every six months following the enactment of this section.
(C) The department may retain the collection fees described in subsection (B) and expend the fees for the purpose of collecting and distributing restitution. Unexpended funds at the end of each fiscal year may be retained by the department and carried forward for use for the same purpose by the department.
ARTICLE 6.
COMPREHENSIVE COMMUNITY CONTROL SYSTEM
SECTION 24-21-510. Development and operation of system; basic elements.
The department shall develop and operate a comprehensive community control system if the General Assembly appropriates sufficient funds. The system shall include community control centers and sentencing options as a condition of probation, and utilize all sentencing options set forth in Chapter 21 of Title 24.
SECTION 24-21-540. Community Control Centers for higher risk offenders; guidelines for placement.
The department shall develop and operate Community Control Centers for higher risk offenders, if the General Assembly appropriates funds to operate the centers. If the department has recommended the placement, offenders may be placed in a center for not less than thirty days nor more than six months by a judge as a condition of probation or as an alternative to probation revocation, or by the board as a condition of parole or as an alternative to parole revocation. An offender may not be placed in the center for more than six months on the same crime. There must not be consecutive sentencing to a Community Control Center.
SECTION 24-21-550. Probation terms involving fines, costs, assessments, or restitution.
A probation term ordered to end upon the payment of fines, court costs, assessments, and restitution must continue until the clerk of court certifies in writing that all monies have been paid, or the probation term has expired, or the expiration of probation has been changed by a subsequent order.
SECTION 24-21-560. Community supervision program; eligibility; time periods, supervision, and determination of completion; violations; revocation; notification of release to community supervision.
(A) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, except in a case in which the death penalty or a term of life imprisonment is imposed, any sentence for a "no parole offense" as defined in Section 24-13-100 must include any term of incarceration and completion of a community supervision program operated by the Department of Probation, Parole, and Pardon Services. No prisoner who is serving a sentence for a "no parole offense" is eligible to participate in a community supervision program until he has served the minimum period of incarceration as set forth in Section 24-13-150. Nothing in this section may be construed to allow a prisoner convicted of murder or a prisoner prohibited from early release, discharge, or work release by any other provision of law to be eligible for early release, discharge, or work release.
(B) A community supervision program operated by the Department of Probation, Parole, and Pardon Services must last no more than two continuous years. The period of time a prisoner is required to participate in a community supervision program and the individual terms and conditions of a prisoner's participation shall be at the discretion of the department based upon guidelines developed by the director. A prisoner participating in a community supervision program must be supervised by a probation agent of the department. The department must determine when a prisoner completes a community supervision program, violates a term of community supervision, fails to participate in a program satisfactorily, or whether a prisoner should appear before the court for revocation of the community supervision program.
(C) If the department determines that a prisoner has violated a term of the community supervision program and the community supervision should be revoked, a probation agent must initiate a proceeding in General Sessions Court. The proceeding must be initiated pursuant to a warrant or a citation issued by a probation agent setting forth the violations of the community supervision program. The court shall determine whether:
(1) the terms of the community supervision program are fair and reasonable;
(2) the prisoner has complied with the terms of the community supervision program;
(3) the prisoner should continue in the community supervision program under the current terms;
(4) the prisoner should continue in the community supervision program under other terms and conditions as the court considers appropriate;
(5) the prisoner has wilfully violated a term of the community supervision program.
If the court determines that a prisoner has wilfully violated a term or condition of the community supervision program, the court may impose any other terms or conditions considered appropriate and may continue the prisoner on community supervision, or the court may revoke the prisoner's community supervision and impose a sentence of up to one year for violation of the community supervision program. A prisoner who is incarcerated for revocation of the community supervision program is not eligible to earn any type of credits which would reduce the sentence for violation of the community supervision program.
(D) If a prisoner's community supervision is revoked by the court and the court imposes a period of incarceration for the revocation, the prisoner also must complete a community supervision program of up to two years as determined by the department pursuant to subsection (B) when he is released from incarceration.
A prisoner who is sentenced for successive revocations of the community supervision program may be required to serve terms of incarceration for successive revocations, as provided in Section 24-21-560(C), and may be required to serve additional periods of community supervision for successive revocations, as provided in Section 24-21-560(D). The maximum aggregate amount of time the prisoner may be required to serve when sentenced for successive revocations may not exceed an amount of time equal to the length of incarceration imposed for the original "no parole offense". The original term of incarceration does not include any portion of a suspended sentence.
If a prisoner's community supervision is revoked due to a conviction for another offense, the prisoner must complete a community supervision program of up to two continuous years as determined by the department after the prisoner has completed the service of the sentence for the community supervision revocation and any other term of imprisonment which may have been imposed for the criminal offense, except when the subsequent sentence is death or life imprisonment.
(E) A prisoner who successfully completes a community supervision program pursuant to this section has satisfied his sentence and must be discharged from his sentence.
(F) The Department of Corrections must notify the Department of Probation, Parole, and Pardon Services of the projected release date of any inmate serving a sentence for a "no parole offense" one hundred eighty days in advance of his release to community supervision. For an offender sentenced to one hundred eighty days or less, the Department of Corrections immediately must notify the Department of Probation, Parole, and Pardon Services.
(G) Victims registered pursuant to Article 15, Chapter 3, Title 16 and the sheriff's office in the county where a prisoner sentenced for a "no parole offense" is to be released must be notified by the Department of Probation, Parole, and Pardon Services when the prisoner is released to a community supervision program.
ARTICLE 7.
PAROLE; RELEASE FOR GOOD CONDUCT
SECTION 24-21-610. Eligibility for parole.
In all cases cognizable under this chapter the Board may, upon ten days' written notice to the solicitor and judge who participated in the trial of any prisoner, parole a prisoner convicted of a crime and imprisoned in the state penitentiary, in any jail, or upon the public works of any county who if:
(1) sentenced for not more than thirty years has served at least one-third of the term;
(2) sentenced to life imprisonment or imprisonment for any period in excess of thirty years, has served at least ten years.
If after January 1, 1984, the Board finds that the statewide case classification system provided for in Chapter 23 of this title has been implemented, that an intensive supervision program for parolees who require more than average supervision has been implemented, that a system for the periodic review of all parole cases in order to assess the adequacy of supervisory controls and of parolee participation in rehabilitative programs has been implemented, and that a system of contracted rehabilitative services for parolees is being furnished by public and private agencies, then in all cases cognizable under this chapter the Board may, upon ten days' written notice to the solicitor and judge who participated in the trial of any prisoner, to the victim or victims, if any, of the crime, and to the sheriff of the county where the prisoner resides or will reside, parole a prisoner who if sentenced for a violent crime as defined in Section 16-1-60, has served at least one-third of the term or the mandatory minimum portion of sentence, whichever is longer. For any other crime the prisoner shall have served at least one-fourth of the term of a sentence or if sentenced to life imprisonment or imprisonment for any period in excess of forty years, has served at least ten years.
The provisions of this section do not affect the parole ineligibility provisions for murder, armed robbery, and drug trafficking as set forth respectively in Sections 16-3-20 and 16-11-330, and subsection (e) of Section 44-53-370.
In computing parole eligibility, no deduction of time may be allowed in any case for good behavior, but after June 30, 1981, there must be deductions of time in all cases for earned work credits, notwithstanding the provisions of Sections 16-3-20, 16-11-330, and 24-13-230.
Notwithstanding the provisions of this section, the Board may parole any prisoner not sooner than one year prior to the prescribed date of parole eligibility when, based on medical information furnished to it, the Board determines that the physical condition of the prisoner concerned is so serious that he would not be reasonably expected to live for more than one year. Notwithstanding any other provision of this section or of law, no prisoner who has served a total of ten consecutive years or more in prison may be paroled until the Board has first received a report as to his mental condition and his ability to adjust to life outside the prison from a duly qualified psychiatrist or psychologist.
SECTION 24-21-615. Review of case of prisoner convicted of capital offense by Parole Board restricted.
The board may not review the case of a prisoner convicted of a capital offense for the purpose of determining whether the person is entitled to any of the benefits provided in this chapter during the month of December of each year.
SECTION 24-21-620. Review by Board of prisoner's case after prisoner has served one fourth of sentence.
Within the ninety-day period preceding a prisoner having served one-fourth of his sentence, the board, either acting in a three-member panel or meeting as a full board, shall review the case, regardless of whether or not any application has been made therefor, for the purpose of determining whether or not such prisoner is entitled to any of the benefits provided for in this chapter; provided, that in cases of prisoners in confinement due to convictions for nonviolent crimes, an administrative hearing officer may be appointed by the director to review the case who must submit to the full board written findings of fact and recommendations which shall be the basis for a determination by the board. Upon an affirmative determination, the prisoner must be granted a provisional parole or parole. Upon a negative determination, the prisoner's case shall be reviewed every twelve months thereafter for the purpose of such determination.
SECTION 24-21-630. Effect of time served while awaiting trial upon determination of time required to be served for eligibility for parole.
For the purpose of determining the time required to be served by a prisoner before he shall be eligible to be considered for parole, notwithstanding any other provision of law, all prisoners shall be given benefit for time served in prison in excess of three months while awaiting trial or between trials.
SECTION 24-21-635. Earned work credits.
For the purpose of determining the time required to be served by a prisoner before he shall be eligible to be considered for parole, notwithstanding any other provision of law, all prisoners shall be given benefit of earned work credits awarded pursuant to Section 24-13-230.
SECTION 24-21-640. Circumstances warranting parole; criteria; reports of parolees; records subject to Freedom of Information Act.
The board must carefully consider the record of the prisoner before, during and after imprisonment, and no such prisoner may be paroled until it appears to the satisfaction of the board: that the prisoner has shown a disposition to reform; that, in the future he will probably obey the law and lead a correct life; that by his conduct he has merited a lessening of the rigors of his imprisonment; that the interest of society will not be impaired thereby; and, that suitable employment has been secured for him. The board must establish written, specific criteria for the granting of parole and provisional parole. This criteria must reflect all of the aspects of this section and include a review of a prisoner's disciplinary and other records. The criteria must be made available to all prisoners at the time of their incarceration and the general public. The paroled prisoner must, as often as may be required, render a written report to the board giving that information as may be required by the board which must be confirmed by the person in whose employment the prisoner may be at the time. The board must not grant parole nor is parole authorized to any prisoner serving a sentence for a second or subsequent conviction, following a separate sentencing for a prior conviction, for violent crimes as defined in Section 16-1-60. Provided that where more than one included offense shall be committed within a one-day period or pursuant to one continuous course of conduct, such multiple offenses must be treated for purposes of this section as one offense.
Any part or all of a prisoner's in-prison disciplinary records and, with the prisoner's consent, records involving all awards, honors, earned work credits and educational credits, are subject to the Freedom of Information Act as contained in Chapter 4 of Title 30.
SECTION 24-21-645. Parole and provisional parole orders; review schedule following parole denial of prisoners confined for violent crimes.
The board may issue an order authorizing the parole which must be signed either by a majority of its members or by all three members meeting as a parole panel on the case ninety days prior to the effective date of the parole; however, at least two-thirds of the members of the board must authorize and sign orders authorizing parole for persons convicted of a violent crime as defined in Section 16-1-60. A provisional parole order shall include the terms and conditions, if any, to be met by the prisoner during the provisional period and terms and conditions, if any, to be met upon parole. Upon satisfactory completion of the provisional period, the director or one lawfully acting for him must issue an order which, if accepted by the prisoner, shall provide for his release from custody. However, upon a negative determination of parole, prisoners in confinement for a violent crime as defined in Section 16-1-60 must have their cases reviewed every two years for the purpose of a determination of parole, except that prisoners who are eligible for parole pursuant to Section 16-25-90, and who are subsequently denied parole must have their cases reviewed every twelve months for the purpose of a determination of parole. This section applies retroactively to a prisoner who has had a parole hearing pursuant to Section 16-25-90 prior to the effective date of this act.
SECTION 24-21-650. Order of parole.
The board shall issue an order authorizing the parole which must be signed by at least a majority of its members with terms and conditions, if any, but at least two-thirds of the members of the board must sign orders authorizing parole for persons convicted of a violent crime as defined in Section 16-1-60. The director, or one lawfully acting for him, then must issue a parole order which, if accepted by the prisoner, provides for his release from custody. Upon a negative determination of parole, prisoners in confinement for a violent crime as defined in Section 16-1-60 must have their cases reviewed every two years for the purpose of a determination of parole.
SECTION 24-21-660. Effect of parole.
Any prisoner who has been paroled is subject during the remainder of his original term of imprisonment, up to the maximum, to the conditions and restrictions imposed in the order of parole or by law imposed. Every such paroled prisoner must remain in the jurisdiction of the board and may at any time on the order of the board, be imprisoned as and where therein designated.
SECTION 24-21-670. Term of parole.
Any prisoner who may be paroled under authority of this chapter shall continue on parole until the expiration of the maximum term or terms specified in his sentence without deduction of such allowance for good conduct as may be provided for by law.
SECTION 24-21-680. Violation of parole.
Upon failure of any prisoner released on parole under the provisions of this chapter to do or refrain from doing any of the things set forth and required to be done by and under the terms of his parole, the parole agent must issue a warrant or citation charging the violation of parole, and a final determination must be made by the board as to whether the prisoner's parole should be revoked and whether he should be required to serve any part of the remaining unserved sentence. But such prisoner must be eligible to parole thereafter when and if the board thinks such parole would be proper. The board shall be the sole judge as to whether or not a parole has been violated and no appeal therefrom shall be allowed; provided, that any person arrested for violation of terms of parole may be released on bond, for good cause shown, pending final determination of the violation by the Probation, Parole and Pardon Board. No bond shall be granted except by the presiding or resident judge of the circuit wherein the prisoner is arrested, or, if there be no judge within such circuit, by the judge, presiding or resident, in an adjacent circuit, and the judge granting the bond shall determine the amount thereof.
SECTION 24-21-690. Release after service of full time less good conduct deduction.
Any person who shall have served the term for which he has been sentenced less deductions allowed therefrom for good conduct shall, upon release, be treated as if he had served the entire term for which he was sentenced.
SECTION 24-21-700. Special parole of persons needing psychiatric care.
Any prisoner who is otherwise eligible for parole under the provisions of this article, except that his mental condition is deemed by the Probation, Pardon and Parole Board to be such that he should not be released from confinement may, subject to approval by the Veterans Administration, be released to the custody of the Veterans Administration or to a committee appointed to commit such prisoner to a Veterans Administration Hospital. Such a special parole shall be granted in the sole discretion of the Board and, when so paroled, a prisoner shall be transferred directly from his place of confinement to a Veterans Administration Hospital which provides psychiatric care. When any prisoner paroled for psychiatric treatment is determined to be in a suitable condition to be released, he shall not be returned to penal custody except for a subsequent violation of the conditions of his parole.
SECTION 24-21-710. Film, videotape, or other electronic information may be considered by board in parole determination.
(A) Film, videotape, or other electronic information that is both visual and aural, submitted pursuant to this section, must be considered by the Board of Probation, Parole, and Pardon Services in making its determination of parole.
(B) Upon receipt of the notice required by law, the following people may submit electronic information:
(1) the victim of the crime for which the prisoner has been sentenced;
(2) the prosecuting solicitor's office; and
(3) the person whose parole is being considered.
(C) The person submitting the electronic information shall provide the Board of Probation, Parole, and Pardon Services with the following:
(1) identification of each voice heard and each person seen;
(2) a visual or aural statement of the date the information was recorded; and
(3) the name of the person whose parole eligibility is being considered.
(D) If the film, videotape, or other electronic information is retained by the board, it may be submitted at subsequent parole hearings each time that the submitting person provides a written statement declaring that the information represents the present position of the person who is submitting the information.
(E) The Department of Corrections may install, maintain, and operate a two-way closed circuit television system in one or more correctional institutions of the department that confines persons eligible for parole. The Board of Probation, Parole and Pardon Services shall install, maintain, and operate closed circuit television systems at locations determined by the board and conduct parole hearings by means of a two-way closed circuit television system provided in this section. A victim of a crime must be allowed access to this system to appear before the board during a parole hearing.
(F) Nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit submission of information in other forms as provided by law.
(G) The director of the Department of Probation, Parole, and Pardon Services may develop written policies and procedures for parole hearings to be held pursuant to this section.
(H) The Board of Probation, Parole, and Pardon Services is not required to install, maintain, or operate film, videotape, or other electronic equipment to record a victim's testimony to be presented to the board.
ARTICLE 11.
PARDONS; COMMUTATION OF DEATH SENTENCES
SECTION 24-21-910. Petitions for reprieve or commutation of death sentence; recommendation to governor.
The Probation, Parole, and Pardon Services Board shall consider all petitions for reprieves or the commutation of a sentence of death to life imprisonment which may be referred to it by the Governor and shall make its recommendations to the Governor regarding the petitions. The Governor may or may not adopt the recommendations but in case he does not he shall submit his reasons for not doing so to the General Assembly. The Governor may act on any petition without reference to the board.
SECTION 24-21-920. Clemency in other cases.
In all other cases than those referred to in Section 24-21-910 the right of granting clemency shall be vested in the Board.
SECTION 24-21-930. Order of pardon.
An order of pardon must be signed by at least two-thirds of the members of the board. Upon the issue of the order by the board, the director, or one lawfully acting for him, must issue a pardon order which provides for the restoration of the pardon applicant's civil rights.
SECTION 24-21-940. Definitions.
A. "Pardon" means that an individual is fully pardoned from all the legal consequences of his crime and of his conviction, direct and collateral, including the punishment, whether of imprisonment, pecuniary penalty or whatever else the law has provided.
B. "Successful completion of supervision" as used in this article shall mean free of conviction of any type other than minor traffic offenses.
SECTION 24-21-950. Guidelines for determining eligibility for pardon.
(A) The following guidelines must be utilized by the board when determining when an individual is eligible for pardon consideration.
(1) Probationers must be considered upon the request of the individual anytime after discharge from supervision.
(2) Persons discharged from a sentence without benefit of parole must be considered upon the request of the individual anytime after the date of discharge.
(3) Parolees must be considered for a pardon upon the request of the individual anytime after the successful completion of five years under supervision. Parolees successfully completing the maximum parole period, if less than five years, must be considered for pardon upon the request of the individual anytime after the date of discharge.
(4) An inmate must be considered for pardon before a parole eligibility date only when he can produce evidence comprising the most extraordinary circumstances.
(5) The victim of a crime or a member of a convicted person's family living within this State may petition for a pardon for a person who has completed supervision or has been discharged from a sentence.
(B) Persons discharged from a sentence without benefit of supervision must be considered upon the request of the individual anytime after the date of discharge.
SECTION 24-21-960. Pardon application fee; re-application after denial.
(A) Each pardon application must be accompanied with a pardon application fee of one hundred dollars. The pardon application fee must be retained and applied by the department toward the pardon process.
(B) Any individual who has an application for pardon considered but denied, must wait one year from the date of denial before filing another pardon application and fee.
SECTION 24-21-970. Pardon considered in cases of terminal illness.
Consideration shall be given to any inmate afflicted with a terminal illness where life expectancy is one year or less.
SECTION 24-21-980. Pardon obtained through fraud.
Once delivered, a pardon cannot be revoked unless it was obtained through fraud. If a pardon is obtained through fraud, it is void.
SECTION 24-21-990. Civil rights restored upon pardon.
A pardon shall fully restore all civil rights lost as a result of a conviction, which shall include the right to:
(1) register to vote;
(2) vote;
(3) serve on a jury;
(4) hold public office, except as provided in Section 16-13-210;
(5) testify without having the fact of his conviction introduced for impeachment purposes to the extent provided by Rule 609(c) of the South Carolina Rules of Evidence;
(6) not have his testimony excluded in a legal proceeding if convicted of perjury; and
(7) be licensed for any occupation requiring a license.
SECTION 24-21-1000. Certificate of pardon.
For those applicants to be granted a pardon, a certificate of pardon shall be issued by the Board stating that the individual is absolved from all legal consequences of his crime and conviction, and that all of his civil rights are restored.
ARTICLE 12.
INTERSTATE COMPACT FOR ADULT OFFENDER SUPERVISION
SECTION 24-21-1100. Short title.
This article may be cited as the "Interstate Compact for Adult Offender Supervision".
SECTION 24-21-1105. Purpose.
The purpose of this compact and the Interstate Commission created under it, through means of joint and cooperative action among the compacting states, is to:
(1) promote public safety by providing adequate supervision in the community of adult offenders who are subject to the compact;
(2) provide a means for tracking offenders subject to supervision under this compact;
(3) provide a means of transferring supervision authority in an orderly and efficient manner;
(4) provide a means of returning offenders to the originating jurisdictions when necessary;
(5) provide a means for giving timely notice to victims of the location of offenders subject to supervision under this compact;
(6) distribute the costs, benefits, and obligations of this compact equitably among the compacting states;
(7) establish a system of uniform data collection for offenders subject to supervision under this compact and to allow access to information by authorized criminal justice officials;
(8) monitor compliance with rules established under this compact; and
(9) coordinate training and education regarding regulations relating to the interstate movement of offenders, for officials involved in this activity.
SECTION 24-21-1110. Definitions.
As used in this compact, unless the context clearly requires a different construction:
(A) "Adult" means both individuals legally classified as adults and juveniles treated as adults by court order, statute, or operation of law.
(B) "By-laws" mean those by-laws established by the Interstate Commission for its governance, or for directing or controlling the Interstate Commission's actions or conduct.
(C) "Compact administrator" means the individual in each compacting state appointed to administer and manage the state's supervision and transfer of offenders subject to the terms of this compact and the rules adopted by the Interstate Commission.
(D) "Compacting state" means any state which has enacted the enabling legislation for this compact.
(E) "Commissioner" means the voting representative of each compacting state appointed pursuant to Section 24-21-1120 and this compact.
(F) "Interstate Commission" means the Interstate Commission for Adult Offender Supervision.
(G) "Member" means the commissioner of a compacting state or designee, who must be a person officially connected with the commissioner.
(H) "Noncompacting state" means a state which has not enacted the enabling legislation for this compact.
(I) "Offender" means an adult placed under, or subject to supervision as the result of the commission of a criminal offense and released to the community under the jurisdiction of a court, paroling authority, corrections, or other criminal justice agency.
(J) "Person" means any individual, corporation, business enterprise, or other legal entity, either public or private.
(K) "Rules" means acts of the Interstate Commission, promulgated pursuant to Section 24-21-1160 of this compact, substantially affecting interested parties in addition to the Interstate Commission, which have the force and effect of law in the compacting states.
(L) "State" means a state of the United States, the District of Columbia, and any territorial possession of the United States.
(M) "State Council" means the resident members of the state council for Interstate Adult Offender Supervision created by each state under Section 24-21-1120.
SECTION 24-21-1120. Interstate Commission for Adult Offender Supervision; state council; creation; commissioners and noncommissioner members; quorum; meetings; Executive Committee.
(A) The compacting states hereby create the " Interstate Commission for Adult Offender Supervision". The Interstate Commission shall be a body corporate and joint agency of the compacting states. The Interstate Commission shall have all the responsibilities, powers, and duties contained in this article, including the power to sue and be sued, and any additional powers as may be conferred upon it by subsequent action of the respective legislatures of the compacting states in accordance with the terms of this compact.
(B)(1) The Interstate Commission shall consist of commissioners selected and appointed by the compacting states. The Governor shall appoint as commissioner from the State of South Carolina the Director of the South Carolina Department of Probation, Parole and Pardon Services, or his designee. The commissioner, acting jointly with similar officers appointed in other states, shall promulgate rules and regulations necessary to effectively carry out the terms of this compact.
(2) The Director of the South Carolina Department of Probation, Parole and Pardon Services, or his designee, must serve as Compact Administrator for the State of South Carolina.
(3) The Director of the South Carolina Department of Probation, Parole and Pardon Services must establish a state council for Interstate Adult Offender Supervision. The membership of the state council must include at least one representative from the legislative, judicial, and executive branches of government, victims groups, and compact administrators.