HOUSE BILL No. 5535

 

December 29, 2005, Introduced by Rep. Byrnes and referred to the Committee on Judiciary.

 

     A bill to amend 1953 PA 232, entitled

 

"Corrections code of 1953,"

 

by amending section 34 (MCL 791.234), as amended by 2004 PA 218.

 

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT:

 

     Sec. 34. (1) Except as provided in section 34a, a prisoner

 

sentenced to an indeterminate sentence and confined in a state

 

correctional facility with a minimum in terms of years other than a

 

prisoner subject to disciplinary time is subject to the

 

jurisdiction of the parole board when the prisoner has served a

 

period of time equal to the minimum sentence imposed by the court

 

for the crime of which he or she was convicted, less good time and

 

disciplinary credits, if applicable.

 

     (2) Except as provided in section 34a, a prisoner subject to


 

disciplinary time sentenced to an indeterminate sentence and

 

confined in a state correctional facility with a minimum in terms

 

of years is subject to the jurisdiction of the parole board when

 

the prisoner has served a period of time equal to the minimum

 

sentence imposed by the court for the crime of which he or she was

 

convicted.

 

     (3) If a prisoner other than a prisoner subject to

 

disciplinary time is sentenced for consecutive terms, whether

 

received at the same time or at any time during the life of the

 

original sentence, the parole board has jurisdiction over the

 

prisoner for purposes of parole when the prisoner has served the

 

total time of the added minimum terms, less the good time and

 

disciplinary credits allowed by statute. The maximum terms of the

 

sentences shall be added to compute the new maximum term under this

 

subsection, and discharge shall be issued only after the total of

 

the maximum sentences has been served less good time and

 

disciplinary credits, unless the prisoner is paroled and discharged

 

upon satisfactory completion of the parole.

 

     (4) If a prisoner subject to disciplinary time is sentenced

 

for consecutive terms, whether received at the same time or at any

 

time during the life of the original sentence, the parole board has

 

jurisdiction over the prisoner for purposes of parole when the

 

prisoner has served the total time of the added minimum terms. The

 

maximum terms of the sentences shall be added to compute the new

 

maximum term under this subsection, and discharge shall be issued

 

only after the total of the maximum sentences has been served,

 

unless the prisoner is paroled and discharged upon satisfactory


 

completion of the parole.

 

     (5) If a prisoner other than a prisoner subject to

 

disciplinary time has 1 or more consecutive terms remaining to

 

serve in addition to the term he or she is serving, the parole

 

board may terminate the sentence the prisoner is presently serving

 

at any time after the minimum term of the sentence has been served.

 

     (6) A prisoner  under sentence  sentenced to imprisonment for

 

life  , other than a prisoner sentenced for life for murder in the

 

first degree or sentenced for life for a violation of section 16(5)

 

or 18(7) or chapter XXXIII of the Michigan penal code, 1931 PA 328,

 

MCL 750.16, 750.18, and 750.200 to 750.212a, or section 17764(7) of

 

the public health code, 1978 PA 368, MCL 333.17764, who  for any of

 

the following is not eligible for parole and is instead subject to

 

the provisions of section 44:

 

     (a) First degree murder in violation of section 316 of the

 

Michigan penal code, 1931 PA 328, MCL 750.316.

 

     (b) A violation of section 16(5) or 18(7) of the Michigan

 

penal code, 1931 PA 328, MCL 750.16 and 750.18.

 

     (c) A violation of chapter XXXIII of the Michigan penal code,

 

1931 PA 328, MCL 750.200 to 750.212a.

 

     (d) A violation of section 17764(7) of the public health code,

 

1978 PA 368, MCL 333.17764.

 

     (e) Any other violation for which parole eligibility is

 

expressly denied under state law.

 

     (7) A prisoner sentenced to imprisonment for life, other than

 

a prisoner described in subsection (6), is subject to the

 

jurisdiction of the parole board and may be placed on parole


 

according to the conditions prescribed in subsection (8) if he or

 

she meets any of the following criteria:

 

     (a) Except as provided in subdivision (b) or (c), the prisoner

 

has served 10 calendar years of the sentence  in the case of a

 

prisoner sentenced  for a crime committed before October 1, 1992  ,  

 

or  , except  15 calendar years of the sentence for a crime

 

committed on or after October 1, 1992.

 

     (b) Except as provided in subsection  (10)  (12),  who  the

 

prisoner has served 20 calendar years of  the  a sentence  in the

 

case of a prisoner sentenced to imprisonment for life  for

 

violating or conspiring to violate section 7401(2)(a)(i) of the

 

public health code, 1978 PA 368, MCL 333.7401,  who  and has

 

another conviction for a serious crime.  , or, except  

 

     (c) Except as provided in subsection  (10)  (12),  who  the

 

prisoner has served 17-1/2 calendar years of the sentence  in the

 

case of a prisoner sentenced to imprisonment for life  for

 

violating or conspiring to violate section 7401(2)(a)(i) of the

 

public health code, 1978 PA 368, MCL 333.7401,  who  and does not

 

have another conviction for a serious crime.  , or who has served

 

15 calendar years of the sentence in the case of a prisoner

 

sentenced for a crime committed on or after October 1, 1992, is

 

subject to the jurisdiction of the parole board and may be released

 

on parole by the parole board,  

 

     (d) The prisoner has served 25 years of the sentence for

 

first-degree criminal sexual conduct against an individual less

 

than 13 years of age.

 

     (8) A parole granted to a prisoner under subsection (7) is


 

subject to the following conditions:

 

     (a) At the conclusion of 10 calendar years of the prisoner's

 

sentence and thereafter as determined by the parole board until the

 

prisoner is paroled, discharged, or deceased, and in accordance

 

with the procedures described in subsection  (7)  (9), 1 member of

 

the parole board shall interview the prisoner. The interview

 

schedule prescribed in this subdivision applies to all prisoners to

 

whom  this  subsection  is applicable  (7) applies, regardless of

 

the date on which they were sentenced.

 

     (b) In addition to the interview schedule prescribed in

 

subdivision (a), the parole board shall review the prisoner's file

 

at the conclusion of 15 calendar years of the prisoner's sentence

 

and every 5 years thereafter until the prisoner is paroled,

 

discharged, or deceased. A prisoner whose file is to be reviewed

 

under this subdivision shall be notified of the upcoming file

 

review at least 30 days before the file review takes place and

 

shall be allowed to submit written statements or documentary

 

evidence for the parole board's consideration in conducting the

 

file review.

 

     (c) A decision to grant or deny parole to  a  the prisoner  so

 

sentenced  shall not be made until after a public hearing held in

 

the manner prescribed for pardons and commutations in sections 44

 

and 45. Notice of the public hearing shall be given to the

 

sentencing judge, or the judge's successor in office, and parole

 

shall not be granted if the sentencing judge, or the judge's

 

successor in office, files written objections to the granting of

 

the parole within 30 days of receipt of the notice of hearing. The


 

written objections shall be made part of the prisoner's file.

 

     (d) A parole granted under  this  subsection (7)(a) to (c)

 

shall be for a period of not less than 4 years and subject to the

 

usual rules pertaining to paroles granted by the parole board. A

 

parole granted under subsection (7)(d) shall be for life and

 

subject to the usual rule pertaining to paroles granted by the

 

parole board. In addition, a prisoner granted parole under

 

subsection (7)(d) shall have his or her location subject to

 

monitoring by global positioning satellite during the entire period

 

that he or she is on parole. A parole  ordered  granted under  this  

 

subsection (7) is not valid until the transcript of the record is

 

filed with the attorney general whose certification of receipt of

 

the transcript shall be returnable to the office of the parole

 

board within 5 days. Except for medical records protected under

 

section 2157 of the revised judicature act of 1961, 1961 PA 236,

 

MCL 600.2157, the file of a prisoner granted a parole under  this  

 

subsection (7) is a public record.

 

     (e) A parole shall not be granted under this subsection in the

 

case of a prisoner who is otherwise prohibited by law from parole

 

consideration. In such cases the interview procedures in section 44

 

shall be followed.

 

     (9)  (7)  An interview conducted under subsection  (6)(a)  

 

(8)(a) is subject to both of the following requirements:

 

     (a) The prisoner shall be given written notice, not less than

 

30 days before the interview date, stating that the interview will

 

be conducted.

 

     (b) The prisoner may be represented at the interview by an


 

individual of his or her choice. The representative shall not be

 

another prisoner. A prisoner is not entitled to appointed counsel

 

at public expense. The prisoner or representative may present

 

relevant evidence in favor of holding a public hearing as  

 

described  allowed in subsection  (6)(b)  (8)(a).

 

     (10)  (8)  In determining whether a prisoner convicted of

 

violating or conspiring to violate section 7401(2)(a)(i) of the

 

public health code, 1978 PA 368, MCL 333.7401, and sentenced to

 

imprisonment for life before October 1, 1998 is to be released on

 

parole, the parole board shall consider all of the following:

 

     (a) Whether the violation was part of a continuing series of

 

violations of section 7401 or 7403 of the public health code, 1978

 

PA 368, MCL 333.7401 and 333.7403, by that individual.

 

     (b) Whether the violation was committed by the individual in

 

concert with 5 or more other individuals.

 

     (c) Any of the following:

 

     (i) Whether the individual was a principal administrator,

 

organizer, or leader of an entity that the individual knew or had

 

reason to know was organized, in whole or in part, to commit

 

violations of section 7401 or 7403 of the public health code, 1978

 

PA 368, MCL 333.7401 and 333.7403, and whether the violation for

 

which the individual was convicted was committed to further the

 

interests of that entity.

 

     (ii) Whether the individual was a principal administrator,

 

organizer, or leader of an entity that the individual knew or had

 

reason to know committed violations of section 7401 or 7403 of the

 

public health code, 1978 PA 368, MCL 333.7401 and 333.7403, and


 

whether the violation for which the individual was convicted was

 

committed to further the interests of that entity.

 

     (iii) Whether the violation was committed in a drug-free school

 

zone.

 

     (iv) Whether the violation involved the delivery of a

 

controlled substance to an individual less than 17 years of age or

 

possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance to an

 

individual less than 17 years of age.

 

     (11)  (9)  Except as provided in section 34a, a prisoner's

 

release on parole is discretionary with the parole board. The

 

action of the parole board in granting a parole is appealable by

 

the prosecutor of the county from which the prisoner was committed

 

or the victim of the crime for which the prisoner was convicted.

 

The appeal shall be to the circuit court in the county from which

 

the prisoner was committed, by leave of the court.

 

     (12)  (10)  If the sentencing judge, or his or her successor

 

in office, determines on the record that a prisoner described in

 

subsection  (6)  (7)(b) or (c) sentenced to imprisonment for life

 

for violating or conspiring to violate section 7401(2)(a)(i) of the

 

public health code, 1978 PA 368, MCL 333.7401, has cooperated with

 

law enforcement, the prisoner is subject to the jurisdiction of the

 

parole board and may be released on parole as provided in

 

subsection  (6),  (7)(b) or (c) 2-1/2 years earlier than the time

 

otherwise indicated in subsection  (6)  (7)(b) or (c). The prisoner

 

is considered to have cooperated with law enforcement if the court

 

determines on the record that the prisoner had no relevant or

 

useful information to provide. The court shall not make a


 

determination that the prisoner failed or refused to cooperate with

 

law enforcement on grounds that the defendant exercised his or her

 

constitutional right to trial by jury. If the court determines at

 

sentencing that the defendant cooperated with law enforcement, the

 

court shall include its determination in the judgment of sentence.

 

     (13)  (11)  An individual convicted of violating or conspiring

 

to violate section 7401(2)(a)(ii) or 7403(2)(a)(ii) of the public

 

health code, 1978 PA 368, MCL 333.7401 and 333.7403, before March

 

1, 2003 is eligible for parole after serving the minimum of each

 

sentence imposed for that violation or 10 years of each sentence

 

imposed for that violation, whichever is less.

 

     (14)  (12)  An individual convicted of violating or conspiring

 

to violate section 7401(2)(a)(iii) or 7403(2)(a)(iii) of the public

 

health code, 1978 PA 368, MCL 333.7401 and 333.7403, before March

 

1, 2003 is eligible for parole after serving the minimum of each

 

sentence imposed for that violation or 5 years of each sentence

 

imposed for that violation, whichever is less.

 

     (15)  (13)  An individual convicted of violating or conspiring

 

to violate section 7401(2)(a)(iv) or 7403(2)(a)(iv) of the public

 

health code, 1978 PA 368, MCL 333.7401 and 333.7403, before March

 

1, 2003 who is sentenced to a term of imprisonment that is

 

consecutive to a term of imprisonment imposed for any other

 

violation of section 7401(2)(a)(i) to (iv) or section 7403(2)(a)(i)

 

to (iv) is eligible for parole after serving 1/2 of the minimum

 

sentence imposed for each violation of section 7401(2)(a)(iv) or

 

7403(2)(a)(iv). This subsection does not apply if the sentence was

 

imposed for a conviction for a new offense committed while the


 

individual is on probation or parole.

 

     (16)  (14)  The parole board shall provide notice to the

 

prosecuting attorney of the county in which the individual was

 

convicted before granting parole to the individual under subsection  

 

(11), (12), or  (13), (14), or (15).

 

     (17)  (15)  As used in this section:

 

     (a) "Serious crime" means violating or conspiring to violate

 

article 7 of the public health code, 1978 PA 368, MCL 333.7101 to

 

333.7545, that is punishable by imprisonment for more than 4 years,

 

or an offense against a person in violation of section 83, 84, 86,

 

87, 88, 89, 316, 317, 321, 349, 349a, 350, 397, 520b, 520c, 520d,

 

520g, 529, 529a, or 530 of the Michigan penal code, 1931 PA 328,

 

MCL 750.83, 750.84, 750.86, 750.87, 750.88, 750.89, 750.316,

 

750.317, 750.321, 750.349, 750.349a, 750.350, 750.397, 750.520b,

 

750.520c, 750.520d, 750.520g, 750.529, 750.529a, and 750.530.

 

     (b) "State correctional facility" means a facility that houses

 

prisoners committed to the jurisdiction of the department, and

 

includes a youth correctional facility operated under section 20g

 

by the department or a private vendor.

 

     Enacting section 1. This amendatory act does not take effect

 

unless Senate Bill No.____ or House Bill No. 5534(request no.

 

04897'05 *) of the 93rd Legislature is enacted into law.