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HB1697 • 2026

Case plans for inmates who committed violent offenses; require certain programs be placed within.

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 47-7-3.1, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO PROVIDE THAT THE CASE PLANS OF INMATES WHO HAVE COMMITTED VIOLENT OFFENSES SHALL CONTAIN CERTAIN PROGRAMS FOR REHABILITATIVE PURPOSES; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

Crime
Did Not Pass

The latest official action shows that this bill did not move forward in that session.

Sponsor
Banks
Last action
2026-02-03
Official status
Dead
Effective date
July 1, 20

Plain English Breakdown

The bill did not pass and therefore its provisions were not enacted into law.

Case Plans for Inmates Who Committed Violent Offenses

This bill requires that case plans for inmates who committed violent offenses include specific programs to help them rehabilitate and prevent future crimes.

What This Bill Does

  • Adds requirements for case plans of inmates who committed violent offenses to include screening for physiological and social issues within 90 days of admission.
  • Includes specific programs like '70 X 7' and 'Love Your Neighbor' in the case plans of violent offenders to address why they committed crimes and how to prevent future ones.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Inmates who have committed violent offenses
  • Department of Corrections staff responsible for creating case plans

Terms To Know

Case Plan
A plan developed by the Department of Corrections to guide an inmate's rehabilitation and reduce the likelihood of them committing crimes again after release.
Rehabilitative Programs
Programs designed to help inmates change their behavior, address past issues, and prepare for life outside prison.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill did not pass in the session it was introduced.
  • It is unclear how many inmates will be affected by this requirement as it depends on the number of violent offenders who are parole-eligible.

Bill History

  1. 2026-02-03 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System

    02/03 (H) Died In Committee

  2. 2026-01-19 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System

    01/19 (H) Referred To Corrections;Judiciary B

Official Summary Text

Case plans for inmates who committed violent offenses; require certain programs be placed within.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
H. B. No. 1697 *HR31/R999* ~ OFFICIAL ~ G1/2
26/HR31/R999
PAGE 1 (OM\JAB)

To: Corrections; Judiciary B
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION 2026

By: Representative Banks

HOUSE BILL NO. 1697

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 47-7-3.1, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, 1
TO PROVIDE THAT THE CASE PLANS OF INMATES WHO HAVE COMMITTED 2
VIOLENT OFFENSES SHALL CONTAIN CERTAIN PROGRAMS FOR REHABILITATIVE 3
PURPOSES; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES. 4
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI: 5
SECTION 1. Section 47-7-3.1, Mississippi Code of 1972, is 6
amended as follows: 7
47-7-3.1. (1) In consultation with the Parole Board, the 8
department shall develop a case plan for all parole-eligible 9
inmates to guide an inmate's rehabilitation while in the 10
department's custody and to reduce the likelihood of recidivism 11
after release. 12
(2) (a) The case plan shall include, but not be limited to: 13
( * * *i) Programming and treatment requirements 14
based on the results of a risk and needs assessment; 15
( * * *ii) Any programming or treatment 16
requirements contained in the sentencing order; and 17
( * * *iii) General behavior requirements in 18
accordance with the rules and policies of the department. 19
H. B. No. 1697 *HR31/R999* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/HR31/R999
PAGE 2 (OM\JAB)

(b) In addition to the requirements in paragraph (a) of 20
this subsection, within ninety (90) days of admission, the 21
department shall complete a case plan that requires screening for 22
physiological and/or social issues on inmates who committed 23
violent offenses. Additionally, such case plans shall consist of 24
programs such as 70 X 7 and Love Your Neighbor or other programs 25
that focus on why the inmate committed the crime and how to 26
prevent future crimes from being committed. The case plans shall 27
also contain programs that enable such inmates to coexist with 28
society. 29
(3) With respect to parole-eligible inmates admitted to the 30
department's custody on or after July 1, 2021, the department 31
shall complete the case plan within ninety (90) days of admission. 32
With respect to parole-eligible inmates admitted to the 33
department's custody before July 1, 2021, the department shall 34
complete the case plan by January 1, 2022. 35
(4) The department shall provide the inmate with a written 36
copy of the case plan and the inmate's caseworker shall explain 37
the conditions set forth in the case plan. 38
(a) Within ninety (90) days of admission, the 39
caseworker shall notify the inmate of their parole eligibility 40
date as calculated in accordance with Section 47-7-3(3); 41
(b) At the time a parole-eligible inmate receives the 42
case plan, the department shall send the case plan to the Parole 43
Board for approval. 44
H. B. No. 1697 *HR31/R999* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/HR31/R999
PAGE 3 (OM\JAB)

(5) With respect to parole-eligible inmates admitted to the 45
department's custody after July 1, 2021, the department shall 46
ensure that the case plan is achievable prior to the inmate's 47
parole eligibility date. With respect to parole-eligible inmates 48
admitted to the department's custody before July 1, 2021, the 49
department shall, to the extent possible, ensure that the case 50
plan is achievable prior to the inmate's parole eligibility date 51
or next parole hearing date, or date of release, whichever is 52
sooner. 53
(6) The caseworker shall meet with the inmate every eight 54
(8) weeks from the date the offender received the case plan to 55
review the inmate's case plan progress. 56
(7) Every four (4) months the department shall 57
electronically submit a progress report on each parole-eligible 58
inmate's case plan to the Parole Board. The board may meet to 59
review an inmate's case plan and may provide written input to the 60
caseworker on the inmate's progress toward completion of the case 61
plan. 62
(8) The Parole Board shall provide semiannually to the 63
Oversight Task Force the number of parole hearings held, the 64
number of prisoners released to parole without a hearing and the 65
number of parolees released after a hearing. 66
(9) If the Department of Corrections fails to adequately 67
provide opportunity and access for the completion of such case 68
plans, the Department of Corrections shall, to the extent 69
H. B. No. 1697 *HR31/R999* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/HR31/R999
PAGE 4 (OM\JAB)
ST: Case plans for inmates who committed
violent offenses; require certain programs be
placed within.
possible, contract with regional jail facilities that offer 70
educational development and job-training programs to facilitate 71
the fulfillment of the case plans of parole-eligible inmates. 72
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from 73
and after July 1, 2026. 74