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SF0088

Wyoming Law Allowing Medical Parole for Inmates

Last scannedOct 18, 2026, 2:19 AM

In one sentence

This law allows the Board of Parole to release inmates with serious, incapacitating medical conditions that cannot be treated in prison, provided they meet specific safety and care requirements.

What it does

  • Allows the Board of Parole to grant medical parole to inmates with serious, incapacitating medical conditions.
  • Requires a written certification by a licensed treating physician that the inmate has a serious medical need that cannot reasonably be provided in a correctional facility, is incapacitated by age, is permanently physically incapacitated, or has a terminal illness predicted to result in death within 12 months.
  • Requires the Board to determine that the inmate is unlikely to abscond or violate the law, that living arrangements and resources are in place to meet needs, and that the inmate's condition does not endanger public health, safety, or welfare.
  • Requires the Board to notify the prosecuting attorney and sentencing court and allow them to provide input regarding a hearing for an inmate who is otherwise ineligible for parole.
  • Requires the Board to impose terms and conditions, including periodic medical progress reports at intervals of not more than six months.
  • Allows the Board to revoke medical parole if the parolee violates a condition of parole or if the medical condition improves to the point where the justification for medical parole no longer exists.

Who it affects

  • Inmates in Wyoming state correctional facilities who have serious, incapacitating medical conditions.
  • The Wyoming Board of Parole, which must review applications, make determinations, and impose conditions.
  • Prosecuting attorneys and sentencing courts, who must receive notice and have the opportunity to provide input for inmates otherwise ineligible for parole.
  • Probation and parole agents, who are responsible for duties under the board's direction, including supervision of parolees.

Limits and unknowns

  • Inmates sentenced to death or life imprisonment without parole are not eligible for medical parole.
  • The law requires that sufficient resources are available to meet the inmate's living and medical needs but does not specify who pays for these costs beyond the department paying for independent medical evaluations.
  • The law does not specify a fixed duration for the parole, but it can be revoked if the medical condition improves or the parolee violates conditions.

Plain language

Terms to know

Medical Parole
A type of parole granted to inmates with serious, incapacitating medical conditions that cannot be reasonably treated in a correctional facility.
Board of Parole
The state agency responsible for deciding whether to grant or deny parole applications and imposing conditions on parolees.
Incapacitating
A condition that substantially diminishes an inmate's ability to provide self-care or makes significant physical activity impossible.

Official record

Sources

Source checked
Read the official summary

2008 General Session Summary for SF0088 Bill No.: SF0088 Drafter: JHR LSO No.: 08LSO-0329 Effective Date: 7/1/2008 Enrolled Act No.: <enrnum> Chapter No.: <chptnum> Prime Sponsor: Senator Meier Catch Title: Inmate medical parole. Subject: Authorizes parole for inmates with serious medical needs as specified. Summary/Major Elements: This bill: Authorizes the Board of Parole to grant medical parole for inmates with serious, incapacitating medical conditions under specified conditions; Specifies that inmates sentenced to death or life imprisonment without parole are not eligible for a medical parole; Requires a written certification by a physician that: the inmate has a serious medical condition that cannot be reasonably provided for in a correctional facility; the inmate is incapacitated by age and medical condition that substantially diminishes his ability for self-care within a correctional facility; the inmate meets specific physical conditions that render him dependent upon permanent medical intervention to survive, or confines him to a bed or other assistive device, thus limiting his mobility; or the inmate suffers from a terminal illness that is predicted to result in death within 6 months; The Board must also make other determinations including that: the inmate is unlikely to abscond or violate the law if released; arrangements are in place to meet the inmate's living and medical needs and expenses; and, the inmate's medical condition would not endanger the public health, safety or welfare; The Board shall notify, and allow input from, the prosecuting attorney and sentencing court regarding a hearing for an inmate who would otherwise be ineligible for parole; The Board shall impose terms and conditions as it deems necessary, including requiring periodic medical reports on the inmate's condition, and may revoke a medical parole if the parolee violates a term of parole or his medical condition improves to the point the basis for the medical parole is no longer justified. Note: Final action on this bill was not taken at the time this summary was prepared. Should changes be made to the bill upon final passage, an updated summary will be transmitted to all legislators.

Public statements

Why lawmakers voted

Last checked Aug 11, 6:56 PM

Voted Yes

Why they voted this way

The lawmaker supports concurrence because the amendments tighten the bill by adding specific language regarding incapacitating needs, shortening the timeline for determining terminal illness, and clarifying reporting intervals.

Public statementFloor statement at 40:46 Watch the statement
Voted Yes

Why they voted this way

The lawmaker opposes concurrence because an amendment changing the misdemeanor penalty to $100 per day does not align with existing statutes.

Public statementFloor statement at 44:21 Watch the statement
Voted Yes

Why they voted this way

The lawmaker supports the amendment to ensure medical parole is only granted for incapacity or terminal disease, preventing releases based on economic convenience.

Public statementFloor statement at 10:34 Watch the statement
Voted Yes

Why they voted this way

The lawmaker urges a vote in favor because they believe the proposed solution addresses many concerns regarding the bill.

Public statementFloor statement at 12:17 Watch the statement
Voted Yes

Why they voted this way

The speaker explains that the bill provides an alternative to pardoning inmates with life-threatening conditions who cannot receive necessary medical care within the prison system. They note this allows for flexibility and enables non-threatening, dying inmates to spend their final days in the community rather than behind bars.

Public statementFloor statement at 42:40 Watch the statement

If a lawmaker is not listed, we couldn't find a published reason.

Wyoming roll calls

Recorded votes

6 roll calls

S Did Concur 27-1-2-0-02008-03-06 · Senate27 yes 1 no
H Passed 3rd Reading 56-3-1-0-02008-03-05 · House56 yes 3 no
H08 Recommended Do Pass 6-3-0-0-02008-02-29 · House6 yes 3 no
S Passed 3rd Reading 30-0-0-0-02008-02-25 · Senate30 yes 0 no
S08 Recommended Amend and Do Pass 5-0-0-0-02008-02-19 · Senate5 yes 0 no
S Introduced and Referred to S08 25-5-0-0-02008-02-14 · Senate25 yes 5 no

Official activity

Bill history

  1. Assigned Chapter Number - 100LSO
  2. Governor Signed HEA0054Governor
  3. H Speaker Signed SEA No. 0054House
  4. S President Signed SEA No. 0054Senate
  5. Assigned Number SEA0054LSO
  6. S Did ConcurSenate
  7. H Passed 3rd ReadingHouse
  8. Amendment FailedHouse
  9. Amendment AdoptedHouse
  10. H Passed 2nd ReadingHouse
  11. Amendment AdoptedHouse
  12. Amendment AdoptedHouse
  13. H Passed CoWHouse
  14. Amendment AdoptedHouse
  15. H Amendments AdoptedHouse
  16. H Placed on General FileHouse
  17. H08 Recommended Do PassHouse
  18. H Introduced and Referred to H08House
  19. H Received for IntroductionHouse
  20. S Passed 3rd ReadingSenate

Changes

Amendments

7 stored

SF0088H2001

Adopted 2nd reading by WARREN

SF0088H2002

Withdrawn 2nd reading by BAGBY

SF0088H2003

Adopted 2nd reading by BUCHANAN

SF0088H3001

Adopted 3rd reading by HALLINAN

SF0088H3002

Failed 3rd reading by ZWONITZ,DV

SF0088HW001

Adopted Committee of the Whole by HALLINAN

SF0088SS001

Adopted Standing Committee by VON FLATER