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SB2774 • 2026

Terms for certain conditional release; authorize MDOC to review for certain elderly inmates sentenced to life imprisonment.

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 47-5-139, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO PROVIDE THAT THE MISSISSIPPI DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS MAY SET THE TERMS OF CONDITIONAL RELEASE FOR AN INMATE WHO HAS RECEIVED A LIFE SENTENCE FOR CAPITAL MURER AND WHO HAS REACHED AGE 65 OR OLDER AND HAS SERVED A MINIMUM OF 15 YEARS OF HIS OR HER SENTENCE; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

Crime
Did Not Pass

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

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

Plain English Breakdown

The bill did not pass and has no legal effect, so specific details about its implementation are speculative.

Rules for Conditional Release of Elderly Inmates

This bill allows the Mississippi Department of Corrections to set terms for conditional release for elderly inmates who have served at least 15 years and are over age 65, except those sentenced for capital murder.

What This Bill Does

  • Allows the Mississippi Department of Corrections (MDOC) to review certain elderly inmates for conditional release.
  • Specifies that an inmate must be over 65 years old and have served at least 15 years of their sentence to qualify for this review, except those sentenced for capital murder.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Elderly inmates over age 65 who have served at least 15 years and are not sentenced for capital murder.
  • The Mississippi Department of Corrections (MDOC).

Terms To Know

conditional release
A type of early release from prison with specific conditions that must be followed.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill did not pass and therefore has no legal effect.
  • It does not apply to inmates sentenced for capital murder.

Bill History

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

    02/03 (S) Died In Committee

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

    01/19 (S) Referred To Judiciary, Division B

Official Summary Text

Terms for certain conditional release; authorize MDOC to review for certain elderly inmates sentenced to life imprisonment.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
S. B. No. 2774 *SS08/R1270* ~ OFFICIAL ~ G1/2
26/SS08/R1270
PAGE 1 (rdd\kr)

To: Judiciary, Division B
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION 2026

By: Senator(s) Barnett

SENATE BILL NO. 2774

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 47-5-139, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, 1
TO PROVIDE THAT THE MISSISSIPPI DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS MAY SET 2
THE TERMS OF CONDITIONAL RELEASE FOR AN INMATE WHO HAS RECEIVED A 3
LIFE SENTENCE FOR CAPITAL MURER AND WHO HAS REACHED AGE 65 OR 4
OLDER AND HAS SERVED A MINIMUM OF 15 YEARS OF HIS OR HER SENTENCE; 5
AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES. 6
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI: 7
SECTION 1. Section 47-5-139, Mississippi Code of 1972, is 8
amended as follows: 9
47-5-139. (1) An inmate shall not be eligible for the 10
earned time allowance if: 11
(a) The inmate was sentenced to life imprisonment; but 12
an inmate, except an inmate sentenced to life imprisonment for 13
capital murder, who has reached the age of sixty-five (65) or 14
older and who has served at least fifteen (15) years may * * * be 15
reviewed by the Mississippi Department of Corrections Records 16
Department for conditional release and the terms of the 17
conditional release shall be set by the Mississippi Department of 18
Corrections. 19
S. B. No. 2774 *SS08/R1270* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/SS08/R1270
PAGE 2 (rdd\kr)
ST: Terms for certain conditional release;
authorize MDOC to review for certain elderly
inmates sentenced to life imprisonment.
(b) The inmate was convicted as a habitual offender 20
under Sections 99-19-81 through 99-19-87; 21
(c) The inmate has forfeited his earned time allowance 22
by order of the commissioner; 23
(d) The inmate was convicted of a sex crime; or 24
(e) The inmate has not served the mandatory time 25
required for parole eligibility for a conviction of robbery or 26
attempted robbery with a deadly weapon. 27
(2) An offender under two (2) or more consecutive sentences 28
shall be allowed commutation based upon the total term of the 29
sentences. 30
(3) All earned time shall be forfeited by the inmate in the 31
event of escape and/or aiding and abetting an escape. The 32
commissioner may restore all or part of the earned time if the 33
escapee returns to the institution voluntarily, without expense to 34
the state, and without act of violence while a fugitive from the 35
facility. 36
(4) Any officer or employee who shall willfully violate the 37
provisions of this section and be convicted therefor shall be 38
removed from office or employment. 39
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from 40
and after July 1, 2026. 41