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Straight-ahead summaries built from the official bill text. We keep the source links front and center and leave the decision up to you.

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SB2036 • 2026

Parole eligibility date; nonviolent inmate may be released in discretion of State Parole Board.

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 47-7-18, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO CLARIFY THAT NONVIOLENT INMATES ELIGIBLE FOR PAROLE MAY, IN THE DISCRETION OF THE STATE PAROLE BOARD, BE RELEASED FROM INCARCERATION TO PAROLE SUPERVISION ON THE PAROLE-ELIGIBLE DATE; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

Did Not Pass

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

Sponsor
Barnett
Last action
2026-03-26
Official status
Dead
Effective date
July 1, 20

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide detailed information about specific requirements for nonviolent inmates beyond meeting their case plans and having no serious violations within six months. The bill summary also does not specify that hearings will still be required in certain situations, such as when requested by victims or law enforcement officials.

Clarifying Parole Release for Nonviolent Inmates

This bill amends Mississippi law to allow nonviolent inmates eligible for parole to be released on their parole-eligible date without a hearing, at the discretion of the State Parole Board.

What This Bill Does

  • Amends Section 47-7-18 of the Mississippi Code of 1972 to clarify that nonviolent inmates who are eligible for parole may be released from incarceration to parole supervision on their parole-eligible date without a hearing before the State Parole Board, if certain conditions are met.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Nonviolent inmates who are eligible for parole
  • The State Parole Board

Terms To Know

Parole-eligible date
The specific day when an inmate becomes eligible to be considered for release on parole.

Limits and Unknowns

  • This bill did not pass during the session it was introduced.
  • The changes would only apply to nonviolent offenders who are eligible for parole under existing laws.

Bill History

  1. 2026-03-26 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System

    03/26 (S) Died On Calendar

  2. 2026-03-06 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System

    03/06 (H) Returned For Concurrence

  3. 2026-03-05 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System

    03/05 (H) Passed As Amended

  4. 2026-03-05 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System

    03/05 (H) Amended

  5. 2026-02-26 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System

    02/26 (H) Title Suff Do Pass As Amended

  6. 2026-02-06 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System

    02/06 (H) Referred To Judiciary B

  7. 2026-02-05 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System

    02/05 (S) Transmitted To House

  8. 2026-02-04 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System

    02/04 (S) Passed

  9. 2026-01-29 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System

    01/29 (S) Title Suff Do Pass

  10. 2026-01-08 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System

    01/08 (S) Referred To Corrections

Official Summary Text

Parole eligibility date; nonviolent inmate may be released in discretion of State Parole Board.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
S. B. No. 2036 *SS36/R483* ~ OFFICIAL ~ G1/2
26/SS36/R483
PAGE 1 (rdd\kr)

To: Corrections
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION 2026

By: Senator(s) Barnett

SENATE BILL NO. 2036

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 47-7-18, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO 1
CLARIFY THAT NONVIOLENT INMATES ELIGIBLE FOR PAROLE MAY, IN THE 2
DISCRETION OF THE STATE PAROLE BOARD, BE RELEASED FROM 3
INCARCERATION TO PAROLE SUPERVISION ON THE PAROLE-ELIGIBLE DATE; 4
AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES. 5
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI: 6
SECTION 1. Section 47-7-18, Mississippi Code of 1972, is 7
amended as follows: 8
47-7-18 (1) No inmate convicted of a sex offense as defined 9
by Section 45-33-23(h), a crime of violence as defined by Section 10
97-3-2, or both, nor an inmate who is eligible for geriatric 11
parole shall be released on parole without a hearing before the 12
Parole Board as required by Section 47-7-17. All other inmates 13
eligible for parole pursuant to Section 47-7-3 * * * may, in the 14
discretion of the State Parole Board, be released from 15
incarceration to parole supervision on the inmate's parole 16
eligibility date, without a hearing before the board, if: 17
(a) The inmate has met the requirements of the parole 18
case plan established pursuant to Section 47-7-3.1; 19
S. B. No. 2036 *SS36/R483* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/SS36/R483
PAGE 2 (rdd\kr)

(b) A victim of the offense has not requested the board 20
conduct a hearing; 21
(c) The inmate has not received a serious or major 22
violation report within the past six (6) months; 23
(d) The inmate has agreed to the conditions of 24
supervision; and 25
(e) The inmate has a discharge plan approved by the 26
board. 27
(2) At least thirty (30) days prior to an inmate's parole 28
eligibility date, the department shall notify the board in writing 29
of the inmate's compliance or noncompliance with the case plan. 30
If an inmate fails to meet a requirement of the case plan, prior 31
to the parole eligibility date, he or she shall have a hearing 32
before the board to determine if completion of the case plan can 33
occur while in the community. 34
(3) Any inmate for whom there is insufficient information 35
for the department to determine compliance with the case plan 36
shall have a hearing with the board. 37
(4) A hearing shall be held with the board if requested by 38
the victim following notification of the inmate's parole release 39
date pursuant to Section 47-7-17. 40
(5) A hearing shall be held by the board if a law 41
enforcement official from the community to which the inmate will 42
return contacts the board or the department and requests a hearing 43
to consider information relevant to public safety risks posed by 44
S. B. No. 2036 *SS36/R483* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/SS36/R483
PAGE 3 (rdd\kr)
ST: Parole eligibility date; nonviolent inmate
may be released in discretion of State Parole
Board.
the inmate if paroled at the initial parole eligibility date. The 45
law enforcement official shall submit an explanation documenting 46
these concerns for the board to consider. 47
(6) If a parole hearing is held, the board may determine the 48
inmate has sufficiently complied with the case plan or that the 49
incomplete case plan is not the fault of the inmate and that 50
granting parole is not incompatible with public safety, the board 51
may then parole the inmate with appropriate conditions. If the 52
board determines that the inmate has sufficiently complied with 53
the case plan but the discharge plan indicates that the inmate 54
does not have appropriate housing immediately upon release, the 55
board may parole the inmate to a transitional reentry center with 56
the condition that the inmate spends no more than six (6) months 57
in the center. If the board determines that the inmate has not 58
substantively complied with the requirement(s) of the case plan it 59
may deny parole. If the board denies parole, the board may 60
schedule a subsequent parole hearing and, if a new date is 61
scheduled, the board shall identify the corrective action the 62
inmate will need to take in order to be granted parole. Any 63
inmate not released at the time of the inmate's initial parole 64
date shall have a parole hearing at least every year. 65
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from 66
and after July 1, 2026. 67