Signed by Governor John Lynch

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that amends probation, parole, and sentencing of certain offenders.

Highlights:

-Authorizes probation or parole officers to require any probationer who violates a probation hearing and whose sentence includes a 1 to 5 day jail sanction (pursuant to RSA 651:2, V(i)) to serve a county house of corrections sanction or a portion thereof, provided that the probationer is advised of and waives his or her right to counsel and to a preliminary hearing (Sec. 3). -Requires every person placed on probation or parole to be assessed by the Department of Corrections to evaluate the person's risk of recidivating, which shall be designated as as low, medium, or high risk (Sec. 4). -Requires any person placed on probation to be subjected to active supervision for a period of 9 months for a misdemeanor and 12 months for a felony, after which the probationer shall be placed on administrative supervision unless her or she has been designated 'high risk' or has been judged by the court to have violated the conditions of probation (Sec. 4). -Requires any person placed on parole for a felony to be subjected to active supervision for a period of 18 months, after which the parolee shall be be placed on administrative supervision unless he or she has been designated 'high risk' or has violated the conditions of parole (Sec. 4). -Requires prisoners convicted of a nonviolent offense to be released on parole upon serving 120 percent of the minimum term of their sentence, with some exceptions (Sec. 6). -Requires that all prisoners who have not been previously paroled, or who were recommitted to prison more than one year prior to the expiration of the maximum term of their sentence, to be released on parole at least 9 months prior to the expiration of the maximum term of their sentence, with some exceptions (Sec. 6). -Requires parolees who are recommitted to serve 90 days in prison before being placed back on parole or the remainder of their maximum sentence, whichever is shorter (Sec. 10). -Requires that parolees who are recommitted to be housed separately in a prison housing unit that provides "focused, evidence-based programming" aimed at reengaging parolees in their parole plan (Sec. 10).

Full Bill Text