The Rehabilitative Release bill will provide meaningful
opportunities for elders in prison to petition the courts for sentence revisions or reductions.
Here's how it works.
Step One
The Department of Corrections to identify people who are 60 years old and have served at least 20 years in custody, or, if convicted of murder, those who are at least 62 years old and have served at least 30 years.
Step Two
DOC would issue these individuals a Certificate of Eligibility, and they would be assigned counsel from the public defender’s office unless they chose to retain private counsel.
Step Three
At a hearing in Superior Court, the person would have the opportunity to present evidence of their rehabilitation and transformation while incarcerated.
Step Four
The court can choose to modify, reduce, or suspend their sentence. An incarcerated person who receives a modified sentence under the bill is to be sentenced to a five-year term of parole supervision.
​​