The provisions of the bill addressing felony sanctions are the subject of this analysis. The bill would amend various codes as they relate to parole eligibility. Under the provisions of the bill, for individuals serving sentences for certain first-degree felony trafficking of persons offenses, eligibility for consideration to release to parole supervision would be either removed or subjected to certain limitations. Under existing statute, individuals serving sentences for certain trafficking offenses may be eligible for consideration to release to parole supervision in certain circumstances.
A first degree felony is punishable by confinement in prison for life or a term from 5 to 99 years and, in addition to confinement, an optional fine not to exceed $10,000.
Removing or limiting the eligibility for consideration to release to parole supervision is expected to result in additional demands upon the correctional resources of the State due to longer sentences of confinement within state correctional institutions. From fiscal year 2018 to 2020, 87 people were arrested, fewer than 10 were placed on direct community supervision, and fewer than 10 were admitted into a state correctional institution for the trafficking of persons offenses specified in the bill. This analysis assumes implementing the provisions of the bill addressing parole eligibility would not result in a significant impact on state correctional populations or on the demand for state correctional resources.