AN ACT RELATING TO CRIMINALS -- CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTIONS -- PAROLE (Requires one elector of the parole board to be a person directly impacted by the criminal justice system who has completed the probation/parole process three (3) or more years prior to selection with a professional background in certain enumerated areas.)

S2159

2026 -- S 2159
========
LC003696
========

STATE OF RHODE ISLAND
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026
____________
A N A C T
RELATING TO CRIMINALS -- CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTIONS -- PAROLE

Introduced By:
Senators Kallman, Mack, Quezada, Lauria, Vargas, DiMario, Tikoian,
Pearson, Urso, and Thompson

Date Introduced:
January 16, 2026

Referred To:
Senate Judiciary
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
1
SECTION 1. Section 13-8-2 of the General Laws in Chapter 13-8 entitled "Parole" is
2
hereby amended to read as follows:
3

13-8-2. Qualifications of board members.
4
The seven (7) electors to be named by the governor shall have the following qualifications:
5
(1)(i) One of the qualified electors shall be a psychologist or a physician who is
6
professionally qualified in the field of psychiatry or neurology;
7
(ii) One shall be a member in good standing of the Rhode Island bar;
8
(iii) One shall be a person who is professionally trained in correctional work or in some
9
closely related general field as a social work;
and
10
(iv) One shall be a law enforcement officer;
and
11

(v) One shall be a person formerly incarcerated or directly impacted by the criminal legal
12
system who has completed the probation and parole process three (3) or more years prior with a
13
background in one of the following areas: psychology, mental health and/or substance use,
14
transitional housing, re-entry after incarceration, education or law.
15
(2) All of the qualified electors shall be individuals who shall also have shown an interest
16
in social welfare problems.

1
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.
========
LC003696
========

LC003696 - Page 2 of 3
EXPLANATION
BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
OF
A N A C T
RELATING TO CRIMINALS -- CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTIONS -- PAROLE
***
1
This act would require one elector of the parole board to be a person directly impacted by
2
the criminal justice system who has completed the probation/parole process three (3) or more years
3
prior to selection with a professional background in certain enumerated areas.
4
This act would take effect upon passage.
========
LC003696
========

LC003696 - Page 3 of 3