§574.4.1. Parole consideration and hearings

A.(1) The parole hearings shall be conducted in a formal manner in accordance with the rules formulated by the committee and with the provisions of this Part. Except as provided in R.S. 15:574.2(C)(4), before the parole of any prisoner is ordered, such prisoner shall appear before and be interviewed by the committee, except those incarcerated in parish prisons or parish correctional centers, in which case one committee member may conduct the interview. The committee may order a reconsideration of the case or a rehearing at any time.

(2) The crime victim or the victim's family, a victim advocacy group, and the district attorney or his representatives, may appear before the committee on parole by means of telephone communication from the office of the local district attorney.

B. The committee shall render its decision ordering or denying the release of the prisoner on parole within thirty days after the hearing. A parole shall be ordered only for the best interest of society, not as an award of clemency, and upon determination by the committee that there is reasonable probability that the prisoner is able and willing to fulfill the obligations of a law-abiding citizen so that he can be released without detriment to the community or to himself.

C. All paroles shall issue upon order of the committee and each order of parole shall recite the conditions thereof; provided, however, that before any prisoner is released on parole he shall be provided with a certificate of parole that enumerates the conditions of parole. These conditions shall be explained to the prisoner and the prisoner shall agree in writing to such conditions.

D.(1) Except as provided in Paragraph (2) of this Subsection, the release date of the prisoner shall be fixed by the committee, but such date shall not be later than six months after the parole hearing or the most recent reconsideration of the prisoner's case.

(2) If the committee on parole determines that it is necessary for the prisoner to complete one or more rehabilitative programs prior to his release to ensure public safety and enhance the prisoner's opportunity for success, the release date of the prisoner may be extended to no later than nine months after the parole hearing or the most recent reconsideration of the prisoner's case.

Acts 2008, No. 266, §2; Acts 2008, No. 337, §1; Acts 2009, No. 168, §2; Acts 2009, No. 182, §2; Acts 2010, No. 241, §§1 and 2; Acts 2012, No. 714, §8; Acts 2017, No. 70, §1; Acts 2017, No. 280, §3, eff. Nov. 1, 2017.