Senate Bill 2117 is designed to comply with a 2012 U.S. Supreme Court ruling that it’s unconstitutional to sentence a juvenile under age 18 with life in person without the possibility of parole. The measure offers alternative sentencing and parole options. The House took up the measure. Republican Nick Bain of Corinth chairs a judiciary committee. He explained on the House floor, the parole safeguards in place to ensure a violent offender isn’t released.
“They’ve got to petition the court to do that and then the court has to grant them the ability to become parole eligible. So not only do you have the DA looking at it. Not only do they have a judge once they pass that they have to go before the parole board. So there’s a lot of layers here,” said Bain.
The House also added language to the bill that would prevent violent habitual offenders from being paroled. The measure passed 118 to 3. But a measure that would restructure the board for the Mississippi Department of Archives and History hit a road block. Currently the board nominates its own successors. House Democrat Robert Johnson of Natchez questions Republican Randy Boyd of Mantachie who presented the bill.
“Would you agree with me that the department of archives and history is an institution that operating independently has been one of our star institutions and worked well for the State of Mississippi?” said Johnson.
“Yes sir.” said Boyd.
“Do you see a real need for a change that they suggested from the Senate?” said Johnson.
“Not as I see in this bill,” said Boyd.
Historians say Senate Bill 2727 would politicize the way Mississippi examines its own legacy. The bill failed 19 to 103. But the measure could be resurrected before a Friday deadline.
