1. The Department of Corrections shall:

(a) Determine when a prisoner sentenced to imprisonment in the state prison is eligible to be considered for parole;

(b) Notify the Board of the eligibility of the prisoner to be considered for parole; and

(c) Before a meeting to consider the prisoner for parole, compile and provide to the Board data that will assist the Board in determining whether parole should be granted.

2. If a prisoner is being considered for parole from a sentence imposed for conviction of a crime which involved the use of force or violence against a victim and which resulted in bodily harm to a victim and if original or duplicate photographs that depict the injuries of the victim or the scene of the crime were admitted at the trial of the prisoner or were part of the report of the presentence investigation and are reasonably available, a representative sample of such photographs must be included with the information submitted to the Board at the meeting. A prisoner may not bring a cause of action against the State of Nevada, its political subdivisions, agencies, boards, commissions, departments, officers or employees for any action that is taken pursuant to this subsection or for failing to take any action pursuant to this subsection, including, without limitation, failing to include photographs or including only certain photographs. As used in this subsection, “photograph” includes any video, digital or other photographic image.

3. Meetings to consider prisoners for parole may be held semiannually or more often, on such dates as may be fixed by the Board. All meetings are quasi-judicial and must be open to the public. No rights other than those conferred pursuant to this section or pursuant to specific statute concerning meetings to consider prisoners for parole are available to any person with respect to such meetings.

4. Except as otherwise provided in NRS 213.10915, not later than 5 days after the date on which the Board fixes the date of the meeting to consider a prisoner for parole, the Board shall notify the victim of the prisoner who is being considered for parole of the date of the meeting and of the victim’s rights pursuant to this subsection, if the victim has requested notification in writing and has provided his or her current address or if the victim’s current address is otherwise known by the Board. The victim of a prisoner being considered for parole may submit documents to the Board and may testify at the meeting held to consider the prisoner for parole. A prisoner must not be considered for parole until the Board has notified any victim of his or her rights pursuant to this subsection and the victim is given the opportunity to exercise those rights. If a current address is not provided to or otherwise known by the Board, the Board must not be held responsible if such notification is not received by the victim.

5. The Board may deliberate in private after a public meeting held to consider a prisoner for parole.

6. The Board of State Prison Commissioners shall provide suitable and convenient rooms or space for use of the State Board of Parole Commissioners.

7. Except as otherwise provided in NRS 213.10915, if a victim is notified of a meeting to consider a prisoner for parole pursuant to subsection 4, the Board shall, upon making a final decision concerning the parole of the prisoner, notify the victim of its final decision.

8. All personal information, including, but not limited to, a current or former address, which pertains to a victim and which is received by the Board pursuant to this section is confidential.

9. The Board may grant parole without a meeting, pursuant to NRS 213.133, but the Board must not deny parole to a prisoner unless the prisoner has been given reasonable notice of the meeting and the opportunity to be present at the meeting. If the Board fails to provide notice of the meeting to the prisoner or to provide the prisoner with an opportunity to be present and determines that it may deny parole, the Board may reschedule the meeting.

10. During a meeting to consider a prisoner for parole, the Board shall allow the prisoner:

(a) At his or her own expense, to have a representative present with whom the prisoner may confer; and

(b) To speak on his or her own behalf or to have his or her representative speak on his or her behalf.

11. Upon making a final decision concerning the parole of the prisoner, the Board shall provide written notice to the prisoner of its decision not later than 10 working days after the meeting and, if parole is denied, specific recommendations of the Board to improve the possibility of granting parole the next time the prisoner is considered for parole, if any.

12. For the purposes of this section, “victim” has the meaning ascribed to it in NRS 213.005.

(Added to NRS by 2011, 65; A 2013, 385)