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HB 204

State Parole Board; provide that three of the five appointed members must have served as law enforcement officers.

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Price Wallace

Mississippi bill mandating three of five parole board members be former law enforcement officers; died in committee without passing.

Died In Committee
#corrections #judiciaryb
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Bill Summary · HB 204

Legislative bill overview

HB 204 would require that at least three of the five appointed members of Mississippi's State Parole Board must have prior experience as law enforcement officers. The bill was introduced in January 2025 but died in committee in February without advancing further.

Why is this important

Parole board composition directly affects which incarcerated individuals are released and under what conditions, influencing both public safety and criminal justice outcomes. This requirement would significantly reshape the board's perspective by mandating law enforcement representation, potentially affecting release rates and conditions across the state's prison system.

Potential points of contention

  • Professional diversity concern: Law enforcement backgrounds may prioritize risk aversion and public safety concerns over rehabilitation-focused perspectives that other professionals (social workers, psychologists, victim advocates) might bring
  • Conflict of interest questions: Former law enforcement officers may have inherent biases favoring incarceration or stricter conditions, potentially disadvantaging some parole applicants
  • Recruitment challenges: Limiting board composition to a specific professional background could reduce the available candidate pool and exclude qualified candidates with different expertise in criminal justice reform, rehabilitation, or victim services

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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