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

H. B. No. 1700 *HR31/R1000* ~ OFFICIAL ~ G1/2
26/HR31/R1000
PAGE 1 (OM\JAB)

To: Corrections; Judiciary B
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION 2026

By: Representative Banks

HOUSE BILL NO. 1700

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
CAPITAL 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 as well as for all inmates who have committed capital 10
offenses to guide an inmate's rehabilitation while in the 11
department's custody and to reduce the likelihood of recidivism 12
after release. 13
(2) (a) The case plan shall include, but not be limited to: 14
( * * *i) Programming and treatment requirements 15
based on the results of a risk and needs assessment; 16
( * * *ii) Any programming or treatment 17
requirements contained in the sentencing order; and 18
H. B. No. 1700 *HR31/R1000* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/HR31/R1000
PAGE 2 (OM\JAB)

( * * *iii) General behavior requirements in 19
accordance with the rules and policies of the department. 20
(b) (i) In addition to the requirements in paragraph 21
(a) of this subsection, within ninety (90) days of admission, the 22
department shall complete a case plan on all inmates who have 23
committed a capital offense that shall consist of at least two (2) 24
of the following program related areas: 25
1. Criminal thinking; 26
2. Alcohol and drugs; 27
3. Life skills; and 28
4. Behavioral health. 29
(ii) Within ninety (90) days of admission, the 30
department shall also complete a case plan that requires screening 31
for physiological and/or social issues on inmates who have 32
committed capital offenses. Such case plans shall consist of 33
programs such as 70 X 7 and Love Your Neighbor or other programs 34
that focus on why the inmate committed the crime and how to 35
prevent future crimes from being committed. The case plans shall 36
also contain programs that enable such inmates to coexist with 37
society. 38
(3) With respect to parole-eligible inmates and inmates who 39
have committed capital offenses admitted to the department's 40
custody on or after July 1, 2021, the department shall complete 41
the case plan within ninety (90) days of admission. With respect 42
to parole-eligible inmates and inmates who have committed capital 43
H. B. No. 1700 *HR31/R1000* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/HR31/R1000
PAGE 3 (OM\JAB)

offenses admitted to the department's custody before July 1, 2021, 44
the department shall complete the case plan by January 1, 2022. 45
(4) The department shall provide the inmate with a written 46
copy of the case plan and the inmate's caseworker shall explain 47
the conditions set forth in the case plan. 48
(a) Within ninety (90) days of admission, the 49
caseworker shall notify the inmate of their parole eligibility 50
date as calculated in accordance with Section 47-7-3(3); 51
(b) At the time a parole-eligible inmate and an inmate 52
who has committed a capital offense receives the case plan, the 53
department shall send the case plan to the Parole Board for 54
approval. 55
(5) With respect to parole-eligible inmates and inmates who 56
have committed capital offenses admitted to the department's 57
custody after July 1, 2021, the department shall ensure that the 58
case plan is achievable prior to the inmate's parole eligibility 59
date, if applicable. With respect to parole-eligible inmates 60
admitted to the department's custody before July 1, 2021, the 61
department shall, to the extent possible, ensure that the case 62
plan is achievable prior to the inmate's parole eligibility date 63
or next parole hearing date, or date of release, whichever is 64
sooner. 65
(6) The caseworker shall meet with the inmate every eight 66
(8) weeks from the date the offender received the case plan to 67
review the inmate's case plan progress. 68
H. B. No. 1700 *HR31/R1000* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/HR31/R1000
PAGE 4 (OM\JAB)
ST: Case plans for inmates who committed
capital offenses; require certain programs be
placed within.
(7) Every four (4) months the department shall 69
electronically submit a progress report on each parole-eligible 70
inmate's case plan to the Parole Board. The board may meet to 71
review an inmate's case plan and may provide written input to the 72
caseworker on the inmate's progress toward completion of the case 73
plan. 74
(8) The Parole Board shall provide semiannually to the 75
Oversight Task Force the number of parole hearings held, the 76
number of prisoners released to parole without a hearing and the 77
number of parolees released after a hearing. 78
(9) If the Department of Corrections fails to adequately 79
provide opportunity and access for the completion of such case 80
plans, the Department of Corrections shall, to the extent 81
possible, contract with regional jail facilities that offer 82
educational development and job-training programs to facilitate 83
the fulfillment of the case plans of parole-eligible inmates. 84
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from 85
and after July 1, 2026. 86