SB 86

Abstract

Amends the Unified Code of Corrections. Provides that a committed person who has attained the age of 55 years and served at least 25 consecutive years of incarceration, excluding any person sentenced to natural life imprisonment for a Class X felony violation of criminal sexual assault, aggravated criminal sexual assault, or predatory criminal sexual assault of a child, shall be eligible to submit a petition to the Prisoner Review Board seeking parole. Specifies factors that the Board must consider as shown by the petition or as shown at the hearing. Provides that victims and victims' families shall be notified in a timely manner and be provided the opportunity to participate at the parole hearing concerning the petitioner's application for parole under this provision in accordance with the Rights of Crime Victims and Witnesses Act, the Open Parole Hearings Act, and this provision. Provides that Prisoner Review Board hearings under this provision shall be conducted by a panel of at least 3 members of the Board and a majority vote of the panel is required to grant the petition and release the petitioner on parole. Provides that the Board shall render its decision within a reasonable time after the hearing. Provides that when the panel votes to deny parole, a rationale shall be prepared by at least one member of the panel that states the basis for the denial, including the primary factors considered. Provides that in its decision, the Board shall set the person's time for parole or if it denies parole, it shall provide for a rehearing no later than 3 years after denial of parole. Provides that this provision applies retroactively to all persons serving any sentence that was or is imposed before, on, or after the effective date of the amendatory Act, and the period of incarceration for eligibility of each such person to submit a petition for parole is based on all previous consecutive years of incarceration served by that person before, on, and after the effective date of the amendatory Act.