AN ACT CONCERNING SENTENCING OF AND PAROLE ELIGIBILITY FOR INDIVIDUALS WHOSE OFFENSE WAS COMMITTED WHEN SUCH INDIVIDUAL WAS UNDER THE AGE OF TWENTY-SIX YEARS.

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General Assembly Raised Bill No. 503
February Session, 2026 LCO No. 2976

Referred to Committee on JUDICIARY

Introduced by:
(JUD)

AN ACT CONCERNING SENTENCING OF AND PAROLE ELIGIBILITY
FOR INDIVIDUALS WHOSE OFFENSE WAS COMMITTED WHEN
SUCH INDIVIDUAL WAS UNDER THE AGE OF TWENTY-SIX YEARS.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General
Assembly convened:

Section 1. Section 54 -125a of the general statutes is repealed and the 1
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage): 2
(a) A person convicted of one or more crimes who is incarcerated on 3
or after October 1, 1990, who received a definite sentence or total 4
effective sentence of more than two years, and who has been confined 5
under such sentence or sentences for not less than one -half of the total 6
effective sentence less any risk reduction credit earned under the 7
provisions of section 18 -98e or one -half of the most recent sentence 8
imposed by the court less any risk reduction credit earned under the 9
provisions of section 18-98e, whichever is greater, may be allowed to go 10
at large on parole (1) in accordance with the provisions of section 54 -11
125i, or (2) in the discretion of a panel of the Board of Pardons and 12
Paroles, if (A) it appears from all available information, including any 13
reports from the Commissioner of Correction that the panel may 14
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require, that there is a reasonable probability that such inmate will live 15
and remain at liberty without violating the law, and (B) such release is 16
not incompatible with the welfare of society. At the discretion of the 17
panel, and under the terms and conditions as may be prescribed by the 18
panel including requiring the parolee to submit personal reports, the 19
parolee shall be allowed to return to the parolee's home or to reside in a 20
residential community center, or to go elsewhere. The parolee shall, 21
while on parole, remain under the jurisdiction of the board until the 22
expiration of the maximum term or terms for which the parolee was 23
sentenced less any risk reduction credit earned under the provisions of 24
section 18-98e. Any parolee released on the condition that the parolee 25
reside in a residential community center may be required to contribute 26
to the cost incidental to such residence. Each order of parole shall fix the 27
limits of the parolee's residence, which may be changed in the discretion 28
of the board and the Commissioner of Correction. Within three weeks 29
after the commitment of each person sentenced to more than two years, 30
the state's attorney for the judicial district shall send to the Board of 31
Pardons and Paroles the record, if any, of such person. 32
(b) (1) No person convicted of any of the following offenses, which 33
was committed on or after July 1, 1981, shall be eligible for parole under 34
subsection (a) of this section: (A) Capital felony, as provided under the 35
provisions of section 53a-54b in effect prior to April 25, 2012, (B) murder 36
with special circumstances, as provided under the provisions of section 37
53a-54b in effect on or after April 25, 2012, (C) felony murder, as 38
provided in section 53a -54c, (D) arson murder, as provided in section 39
53a-54d, (E) murder, as provided in section 53a -54a, or (F) aggravated 40
sexual assault in the first degree, as provided in section 53a -70a. (2) A 41
person convicted of (A) a violation of section 53a -100aa or 53a -102, or 42
(B) an offense, other than an offense specified in subdivision (1) of this 43
subsection, where the underlying facts and circumstances of the offense 44
involve the use, attempted use or threatened use of physical force 45
against another person shall be ineligible for parole under subsection (a) 46
of this section until such person has served not less than eighty-five per 47
cent of the definite sentence imposed. 48
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(c) The Board of Pardons and Paroles shall, not later than July 1, 1996, 49
adopt regulations in accordance with chapter 54 to ensure that a person 50
convicted of an offense described in subdivision (2) of subsection (b) of 51
this section is not released on parole until such person has served eighty-52
five per cent of the definite sentence imposed by the court. Such 53
regulations shall include guidelines and procedures for classifying a 54
person as a violent offender that are not limited to a consideration of the 55
elements of the offense or offenses for which such person was convicted. 56
(d) The Board of Pardons and Paroles may hold a hearing to 57
determine the suitability for parole release of any person whose 58
eligibility for parole release is not subject to the provisions of subsection 59
(b) of this section upon completion by such person of seventy -five per 60
cent of such person's definite or total effective sentence less any risk 61
reduction credit earned under the provisions of section 18 -98e. An 62
employee of the board or, if deemed necessary by the chairperson, a 63
panel of the board shall assess the suitability for parole release of such 64
person based on the following standards: (1) Whether there is 65
reasonable probability that such person will live and remain at liberty 66
without violating the law, and (2) whether the benefits to such person 67
and society that would result from such person's release to community 68
supervision substantially outweigh the benefits to such person and 69
society that would result from such person's continued incarceration. If 70
a hearing is held, and if the board determines that continued 71
confinement is necessary, the board shall articulate for the record the 72
specific reasons why such person and the public would not benefit from 73
such person serving a period of parole supervision while transitioning 74
from incarceration to the community. If a hearing is not held, the board 75
shall document the specific reasons for not holding a hearing and 76
provide such reasons to such person. No person shall be released on 77
parole without receiving a hearing. The decision of the board under this 78
subsection shall not be subject to appeal. 79
(e) The Board of Pardons and Paroles may hold a hearing to 80
determine the suitability for parole release of any person whose 81
eligibility for parole release is subject to the provisions of subdivision 82
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(2) of subsection (b) of this section upon completion by such person of 83
eighty-five per cent of such person's definite or total effective sentence. 84
An employee of the board or, if deemed necessary by the chairperson, a 85
panel of the board shall assess the suitability for parole release of such 86
person based on the following standards: (1) Whether there is a 87
reasonable probability that such person will live and remain at liberty 88
without violating the law, and (2) whether the benefits to such person 89
and society that would result from such person's release to community 90
supervision substantially outweigh the benefits to such person and 91
society that would result from such person's continued incarceration. If 92
a hearing is held, and if the board determines that continued 93
confinement is necessary, the board shall articulate for the record the 94
specific reasons why such person and the public would not benefit from 95
such person serving a period of parole supervision while transitioning 96
from incarceration to the community. No hearing pursuant to the 97
provisions of this subsection may proceed unless the parole release 98
panel is in possession of the complete file for such applicant, including 99
any documentation from the Department of Correction, the trial 100
transcript, the sentencing record and any file of any previous parole 101
hearing. Each member of the panel shall certify that all such 102
documentation has been reviewed in preparation for such hearing. If a 103
hearing is not held, the board shall document the specific reasons for not 104
holding a hearing and provide such reasons to such person. No person 105
shall be released on parole without receiving a hearing. The decision of 106
the board under this subsection shall not be subject to appeal. 107
(f) (1) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsections (a) to (e), 108
inclusive, of this section, a person convicted of one or more crimes 109
committed while such person was under eighteen years of age, who is 110
incarcerated on or after October 1, 2015, and who received a definite 111
sentence or total effective sentence of more than ten years for such crime 112
or crimes prior to, on or after October 1, 2015, may be allowed to go at 113
large on parole in the discretion of the panel of the Board of Pardons 114
and Paroles for the institution in which such person is confined, 115
provided (A) if such person is serving a sentence of fifty years or less, 116
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such person shall be eligible for parole after serving sixty per cent of the 117
sentence or twelve years, whichever is greater, or (B) if such person is 118
serving a sentence of more than fifty years, such person shall be eligible 119
for parole after serving thirty years. Nothing in this subsection shall 120
limit a person's eligibility for parole release under the provisions of 121
subsections (a) to (e), inclusive, of this section if such person would be 122
eligible for parole release at an earlier date under any of such provisions. 123
(2) The board shall apply the parole eligibility rules of this subsection 124
only with respect to the sentence for a crime or crimes committed while 125
a person was under eighteen years of age. Any portion of a sentence that 126
is based on a crime or crimes committed while a person was eighteen 127
years of age or older shall be subject to the applicable parole eligibility, 128
suitability and release rules set forth in subsections (a) to (e), inclusive, 129
of this section. 130
(3) Whenever a person becomes eligible for parole release pursuant 131
to this subsection, the board shall hold a hearing to determine such 132
person's suitability for parole release. At least twelve months prior to 133
such hearing, the board shall notify the office of Chief Public Defender, 134
the appropriate state's attorney, the Victim Services Unit within the 135
Department of Correction, the Office of the Victim Advocate and the 136
Office of Victim Services within the Judicial Department of such 137
person's eligibility for parole release pursuant to this subsection. The 138
office of Chief Public Defender shall assign counsel for such person 139
pursuant to section 51-296 if such person is indigent. At any hearing to 140
determine such person's suitability for parole release pursuant to this 141
subsection, the board shall permit (A) such person to make a statement 142
on such person's behalf, (B) counsel for such person and the state's 143
attorney to submit reports and other documents, and (C) any victim of 144
the crime or crimes to make a statement pursuant to section 54-126a. The 145
board may request testimony from mental health professionals or other 146
relevant witnesses, and reports from the Commissioner of Correction or 147
other persons, as the board may require. The board shall use validated 148
risk assessment and needs assessment tools and its risk -based 149
structured decision making and release criteria established pursuant to 150
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subsection (d) of section 54-124a in making a determination pursuant to 151
this subsection. 152
(4) After such hearing, the board may allow such person to go at large 153
on parole with respect to any portion of a sentence that was based on a 154
crime or crimes committed while such person was under eighteen years 155
of age if the board finds that such parole release would be consistent 156
with the factors set forth in subdivisions (1) to (4), inclusive, of 157
subsection (c) of section 54 -300 and if it appears, from all available 158
information, including, but not limited to, any reports from the 159
Commissioner of Correction, that (A) there is a reasonable probability 160
that such person will live and remain at liberty without violating the 161
law, (B) the benefits to such person and society that would result from 162
such person's release to community supervision substantially outweigh 163
the benefits to such person and society that would result from such 164
person's continued incarceration, and (C) such person has demonstrated 165
substantial rehabilitation since the date such crime or crimes were 166
committed considering such person's character, background and 167
history, as demonstrated by factors, including, but not limited to, such 168
person's correctional record, the age and circumstances of such person 169
as of the date of the commission of the crime or crimes, whether such 170
person has demonstrated remorse and increased maturity since the date 171
of the commission of the crime or crimes, such person's contributions to 172
the welfare of other persons through service, such person's efforts to 173
overcome substance abuse, addiction, trauma, lack of education or 174
obstacles that such person may have faced as a child or youth in the 175
adult correctional system, the opportunities for rehabilitation in the 176
adult correctional system, whether the person has also applied for or 177
received a sentence modification and the overall degree of such person's 178
rehabilitation considering the nature and circumstances of the crime or 179
crimes. 180
(5) After such hearing, the board shall articulate for the record its 181
decision and the reasons for its decision. If the board determines that 182
continued confinement is necessary, the board may reassess such 183
person's suitability for a new parole hearing at a later date to be 184
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determined at the discretion of the board, but not earlier than two years 185
after the date of its decision. 186
(6) The decision of the board under this subsection shall not be subject 187
to appeal. 188
(g) (1) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsections (a) to (f), 189
inclusive, of this section, a person convicted of one or more crimes 190
committed while such person was under [twenty-one] twenty-six years 191
of age [, who was sentenced on or before October 1, 2005,] and who 192
received a definite sentence or total effective sentence of more than ten 193
years' incarceration for such crime or crimes , [committed on or before 194
October 1, 2005,] may be allowed to go at large on parole in the 195
discretion of the panel of the Board of Pardons and Paroles for the 196
institution in which such person is confined, provided (A) if such person 197
is serving a sentence of fifty years or less, such person shall be eligible 198
for parole after serving sixty per cent of the sentence or twelve years, 199
whichever is greater, or (B) if such person is serving a sentence of more 200
than fifty years, such person shall be eligible for parole after serving 201
thirty years. Nothing in this subsection shall limit a person's eligibility 202
for parole release under the provisions of subsections (a) to (f), inclusive, 203
of this section if such person would be eligible for parole release at an 204
earlier date under any of such provisions. 205
(2) The board shall apply the parole eligibility rules of this subsection 206
only with respect to the sentence for a crime or crimes committed while 207
a person was under [twenty-one] twenty-six years of age. Any portion 208
of a sentence that is based on a crime or crimes committed while a 209
person was [twenty-one] twenty-six years of age or older shall be subject 210
to the applicable parole eligibility, suitability and release rules set forth 211
in subsections (a) to (e), inclusive, of this section. 212
(3) Whenever a person becomes eligible for parole release pursuant 213
to this subsection, the board shall hold a hearing to determine such 214
person's suitability for parole release. At least twelve months prior to 215
such hearing, the board shall notify the office of Chief Public Defender, 216
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the appropriate state's attorney, the Victim Services Unit within the 217
Department of Correction, the Office of the Victim Advocate and the 218
Office of Victim Services within the Judicial Department of such 219
person's eligibility for parole release pursuant to this subsection. The 220
office of Chief Public Defender shall assign counsel for such person 221
pursuant to section 51-296 if such person is indigent. At any hearing to 222
determine such person's suitability for parole release pursuant to this 223
subsection, the board shall permit (A) such person to make a statement 224
on such person's behalf, (B) counsel for such person and the state's 225
attorney to submit reports and other documents, and (C) any victim of 226
the crime or crimes to make a statement pursuant to section 54-126a. The 227
board may request testimony from mental health professionals or other 228
relevant witnesses, and reports from the Commissioner of Correction or 229
other persons, as the board may require. The board shall use validated 230
risk assessment and needs assessment tools and its risk -based 231
structured decision making and release criteria established pursuant to 232
subsection (d) of section 54-124a in making a determination pursuant to 233
this subsection. 234
(4) After such hearing, the board may allow such person to go at large 235
on parole with respect to any portion of a sentence that was based on a 236
crime or crimes committed while such person was under [twenty-one] 237
twenty-six years of age, if the board finds that such parole release would 238
be consistent with the factors set forth in subdivisions (1) to (4), 239
inclusive, of subsection (c) of section 54 -300 and if it appears, from all 240
available information, including, but not limited to, any reports from the 241
Commissioner of Correction, that (A) there is a reasonable probability 242
that such person will live and remain at liberty without violating the 243
law, (B) the benefits to such person and society that would result from 244
such person's release to community supervision substantially outweigh 245
the benefits to such person and society that would result from such 246
person's continued incarceration, and (C) such person has demonstrated 247
substantial rehabilitation since the date such crime or crimes were 248
committed considering such person's character, background and 249
history, as demonstrated by factors, including, but not limited to, such 250
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person's correctional record, the age and circumstances of such person 251
as of the date of the commission of the crime or crimes, whether such 252
person has demonstrated remorse and increased maturity since the date 253
of the commission of the crime or crimes, such person's contributions to 254
the welfare of other persons through service, such person's efforts to 255
overcome substance abuse, addiction, trauma, lack of education or 256
obstacles that such person may have faced as a person who was under 257
[twenty-one] twenty-six years of age in the adult correctional system, 258
the opportunities for rehabilitation in the adult correctional system, 259
whether the person has also applied for or received a sentence 260
modification and the overall degree of such person's rehabilitation 261
considering the nature and circumstances of the crime or crimes. There 262
shall be a rebuttable presumption that any person who is made eligible 263
for parole pursuant to subdivision (1) of this subsection, that such 264
person has satisfied all other factors concerning such person's parole 265
eligibility. 266
(5) After such hearing, the board shall articulate for the record its 267
decision and the reasons for its decision. If the board determines that 268
continued confinement is necessary, the board may reassess such 269
person's suitability for a new parole hearing at a later date to be 270
determined at the discretion of the board, but not earlier than two years 271
after the date of its decision. 272
(6) The decision of the board under this subsection shall not be subject 273
to appeal. 274
(h) Any person released on parole under this section shall remain in 275
the custody of the Commissioner of Correction and be subject to 276
supervision by personnel of the Department of Correction during such 277
person's period of parole. 278
Sec. 2. Section 54 -91g of the general statutes is repealed and the 279
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage): 280
(a) If the case of a child, as defined in section 46b -120, is transferred 281
to the regular criminal docket of the Superior Court pursuant to section 282
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46b-127 and the child is convicted of a class A or B felony pursuant to 283
such transfer, or in the case of any other person who has not yet attained 284
the age of twenty -six years at the time the crime or crimes were 285
committed for which such person is convicted of a class A or B felony, 286
at the time of sentencing, the court shall: 287
(1) Consider, in addition to any other information relevant to 288
sentencing, the defendant's age at the time of the offense, the hallmark 289
features of adolescence and young adulthood , and any scientific and 290
psychological evidence showing the differences between a child's or 291
young adult's brain development and [an] a mature adult's brain 292
development; and 293
(2) Consider, if the court proposes to sentence the child or other 294
person to a lengthy sentence under which it is likely that the child or 295
other person will die while incarcerated, how the scientific and 296
psychological evidence described in subdivision (1) of this subsection 297
counsels against such a sentence. 298
(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of section 54-91a, no presentence 299
investigation or report may be waived with respect to a child or other 300
person described in subsection (a) of this section convicted of a class A 301
or B felony. Any presentence report prepared with respect to a child or 302
other person described in subsection (a) of this section convicted of a 303
class A or B felony shall address the factors set forth in subparagraphs 304
(A) to (D), inclusive, of subdivision (1) of subsection (a) of this section. 305
(c) Whenever a child or other person is sentenced pursuant to 306
subsection (a) of this section, the court shall indicate the maximum 307
period of incarceration that may apply to the child or other person and 308
whether the child or other person may be eligible to apply for release on 309
parole pursuant to subdivision (1) of subsection (f) of section 54-125a, as 310
amended by this act. 311
(d) The Court Support Services Division of the Judicial Branch shall 312
compile reference materials relating to adolescent and young adult 313
psychological and brain development to assist courts in sentencing 314
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children or other persons pursuant to this section. 315
This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following
sections:

Section 1 from passage 54-125a
Sec. 2 from passage 54-91g

JUD Joint Favorable
APP Joint Favorable