Modifies provisions relating to parole eligibility

Plain English Breakdown

Using official source text because the generated explanation was unavailable or could not be confirmed against the official bill text.

Modifies provisions relating to parole eligibility

The following summaries of this bill are available: Print All Summaries Introduced Print SB 1681 - This act provides that an offender shall be eligible to receive a parole hearing after serving 30 years or more of his or her sentence if such offender: • Is incarcerated in a correctional facility after being sentenced by a court; • Is serving a sentence of life without parole for the offense of first or second degree murder prior to October 1, 1984; • Is 60 years of age or older; • Has no felony convictions prior to the conviction for which he or she is currently incarcerated; and • Is not a convicted sex offender.

What This Bill Does

• The following summaries of this bill are available: Print All Summaries Introduced Print SB 1681 - This act provides that an offender shall be eligible to receive a parole hearing after serving 30 years or more of his or her sentence if such offender: • Is incarcerated in a correctional facility after being sentenced by a court; • Is serving a sentence of life without parole for the offense of first or second degree murder prior to October 1, 1984; • Is 60 years of age or older; • Has no felony convictions prior to the conviction for which he or she is currently incarcerated; and • Is not a convicted sex offender.
• During the parole hearing, the Parole Board ("Board") shall determine if there is a reasonable probability the offender will not violate the law upon release.
• If the Board determines a reasonable probability exists, the offender shall be eligible for release upon a finding that the offender has a record of good conduct while incarcerated, demonstrated self-rehabilitation, developed a workable parole plane, and has a risk factor and mental health score determined appropriate by the Board.
• Any offender released under this act shall be subject to a minimum of five years of supervision by the Board.

Limits and Unknowns

• This entry is temporarily using official source text because the generated explanation could not be confirmed against the official bill text during the last sync.

Official Summary Text

The following summaries of this bill are available:

Print All Summaries

Introduced

Print

SB 1681 - This act provides that an offender shall be eligible to receive a parole hearing after serving 30 years or more of his or her sentence if such offender:
• Is incarcerated in a correctional facility after being sentenced by a court;
• Is serving a sentence of life without parole for the offense of first or second degree murder prior to October 1, 1984;
• Is 60 years of age or older;
• Has no felony convictions prior to the conviction for which he or she is currently incarcerated; and
• Is not a convicted sex offender.

During the parole hearing, the Parole Board ("Board") shall determine if there is a reasonable probability the offender will not violate the law upon release. If the Board determines a reasonable probability exists, the offender shall be eligible for release upon a finding that the offender has a record of good conduct while incarcerated, demonstrated self-rehabilitation, developed a workable parole plane, and has a risk factor and mental health score determined appropriate by the Board.

Any offender released under this act shall be subject to a minimum of five years of supervision by the Board.

This act is identical to SB 1226 (2026), SB 234 (2025), SB 341 (2025), SB 914 (2024), SB 1147 (2024), SB 147 (2023), and SB 714 (2022) and is similar to SB 1335 (2026), SB 438 (2025), SB 1218 (2024), SB 581 (2023), SB 995 (2022), HB 2134 (2022), HB 277 (2021), and HB 1078 (2019).
TRISTAN BENSON, JR.

Current Bill Text

SECOND REGULAR SESSION
SENATE BILL NO. 1681
103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY
INTRODUCED BY SENATOR MCCREERY .
4846S.01I KRISTINA MARTIN, Secretary
AN ACT
To amend chapter 217, RSMo, by adding thereto one new section relating to parole eligibility.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Missouri, as follows:
Section A. Chapter 217, RSMo, is amended by adding thereto 1
one new section, to be known as section 217.697, to read as 2
follows:3
217.697. 1. Notwithstanding any other provision of 1
law to the contrary, any offender who: 2
(1) Is incarcerated in a correctional facility after 3
being sentenced by a court of this state; 4
(2) Is serving a sentence of life without parole for a 5
minimum of fifty years or more and who was sentenced under 6
section 565.008 for an offense committed prior to October 1, 7
1984; 8
(3) Is sixty years of age or older; 9
(4) Has no felony conviction for a dangerous felony, 10
as defined under section 556.061, prior to the conviction 11
for which he or she is currently incarcerated; and 12
(5) Is not a convicted sex offender; 13
shall receive a parole hearing upon serving thirty years or 14
more of his or her sentence. 15
2. During the parole hearing required under subsection 16
1 of this section, the parole board shall determine whether 17
there is a reasonable probability the offender shall live 18
SB 1681 2
and remain at liberty without violating the law upon 19
release. If the board determines a reasonable probability 20
exists, the offender shall be eligible for release upon a 21
finding that the offender has: 22
(1) A record of good conduct while incarcerated; 23
(2) Demonstrated self-rehabilitation while 24
incarcerated; 25
(3) A workable parole plan, including community and 26
family support; and 27
(4) An institutional risk factor score and a mental 28
health score determined to be appropriate by the parole 29
board. 30
3. Any offender granted parole under this section 31
shall be subject to a minimum of five years of supervision 32
by the division of probation and parole upon release. 33
4. Nothing in this section shall diminish the 34
consideration of parole under any other provision of law 35
applicable to the offender or the responsibility and 36
authority of the governor to grant clemency, including 37
pardons and commutation of sentences if necessary or 38
desirable. 39
✓