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HB1699 • 2026

Case plans for nonviolent inmates; 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 NONVIOLENT OFFENSES SHALL CONTAIN CERTAIN PROGRAMS FOR REHABILITATIVE PURPOSES; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

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 during the session and therefore has no current legal effect.

Case Plans for Nonviolent Inmates

This bill requires that case plans for inmates who have committed nonviolent offenses include specific programs aimed at rehabilitation.

What This Bill Does

  • Specifies that case plans for nonviolent offenders must include two out of four specified program areas: criminal thinking, alcohol and drug treatment, life skills training, or behavioral health services.
  • Sets a deadline of 90 days from admission to complete these case plans.
  • Requires the Department of Corrections to provide inmates with written copies of their case plans and explain them.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Inmates who have committed nonviolent offenses and are parole-eligible.
  • The Department of Corrections, which must develop and implement these case plans.

Terms To Know

Case Plan
A written plan developed by the Department of Corrections to guide an inmate's rehabilitation while in custody and after release.
Parole-Eligible Inmates
Inmates who have served enough time to be considered for early release on parole.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill did not pass during the session and therefore has no current legal effect.
  • It is unclear how many nonviolent inmates will be affected by this requirement.
  • Details about specific programs within each area (criminal thinking, alcohol and drugs, life skills, behavioral health) are not provided in the text.

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 nonviolent inmates; require certain programs be placed within.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
H. B. No. 1699 *HR31/R998* ~ OFFICIAL ~ G1/2
26/HR31/R998
PAGE 1 (OM\JAB)

To: Corrections; Judiciary B
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION 2026

By: Representative Banks

HOUSE BILL NO. 1699

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
NONVIOLENT OFFENSES SHALL CONTAIN CERTAIN PROGRAMS FOR 3
REHABILITATIVE 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. 1699 *HR31/R998* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/HR31/R998
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 on all nonviolent inmates 22
that shall consist of at least two (2) of the following program 23
related areas: 24
(i) Criminal thinking; 25
(ii) Alcohol and drugs; 26
(iii) Life skills; and 27
(iv) Behavioral health. 28
(3) With respect to parole-eligible inmates admitted to the 29
department's custody on or after July 1, 2021, the department 30
shall complete the case plan within ninety (90) days of admission. 31
With respect to parole-eligible inmates admitted to the 32
department's custody before July 1, 2021, the department shall 33
complete the case plan by January 1, 2022. 34
(4) The department shall provide the inmate with a written 35
copy of the case plan and the inmate's caseworker shall explain 36
the conditions set forth in the case plan. 37
(a) Within ninety (90) days of admission, the 38
caseworker shall notify the inmate of their parole eligibility 39
date as calculated in accordance with Section 47-7-3(3); 40
(b) At the time a parole-eligible inmate receives the 41
case plan, the department shall send the case plan to the Parole 42
Board for approval. 43
H. B. No. 1699 *HR31/R998* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/HR31/R998
PAGE 3 (OM\JAB)

(5) With respect to parole-eligible inmates admitted to the 44
department's custody after July 1, 2021, the department shall 45
ensure that the case plan is achievable prior to the inmate's 46
parole eligibility date. With respect to parole-eligible inmates 47
admitted to the department's custody before July 1, 2021, the 48
department shall, to the extent possible, ensure that the case 49
plan is achievable prior to the inmate's parole eligibility date 50
or next parole hearing date, or date of release, whichever is 51
sooner. 52
(6) The caseworker shall meet with the inmate every eight 53
(8) weeks from the date the offender received the case plan to 54
review the inmate's case plan progress. 55
(7) Every four (4) months the department shall 56
electronically submit a progress report on each parole-eligible 57
inmate's case plan to the Parole Board. The board may meet to 58
review an inmate's case plan and may provide written input to the 59
caseworker on the inmate's progress toward completion of the case 60
plan. 61
(8) The Parole Board shall provide semiannually to the 62
Oversight Task Force the number of parole hearings held, the 63
number of prisoners released to parole without a hearing and the 64
number of parolees released after a hearing. 65
(9) If the Department of Corrections fails to adequately 66
provide opportunity and access for the completion of such case 67
plans, the Department of Corrections shall, to the extent 68
H. B. No. 1699 *HR31/R998* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/HR31/R998
PAGE 4 (OM\JAB)
ST: Case plans for nonviolent inmates; require
certain programs be placed within.
possible, contract with regional jail facilities that offer 69
educational development and job-training programs to facilitate 70
the fulfillment of the case plans of parole-eligible inmates. 71
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from 72
and after July 1, 2026. 73