Parole for Individuals Convicted of Murder (H 5158A, S 0132A)

In April, despite ACLU testimony in opposition, the Senate passed legislation requiring that individuals convicted of first or second degree murder serve at least fifty percent of their sentence before becoming eligible for parole; the House followed in May. The ACLU testified that such legislation undermines the rehabilitative goals of prison, keeping individuals incarcerated solely to keep them incarcerated, without any evidence that refusing them an opportunity to come before the parole board and demonstrate their ability to reintegrate into society provides any increased public safety benefit. Further, at a cost of approximately $40,000 per person per year of incarceration, such legislation would place a tremendous financial burden on the taxpayers with no resulting benefit. The ACLU called for a veto of this legislation.