Parole: sex offenders.

Existing law, as amended by Proposition 83 of the November 7, 2006, statewide general election, the Sexual Predator Punishment and Control Act: Jessica's Law, provides that in the case of sex offenders who have received a life sentence for the commission of certain sex offenses the period of parole shall be 10 years. Existing law provides that the Board of Parole Hearings shall have the power to allow prisoners imprisoned in the state prisons for an indeterminate sentence to go upon parole outside the prison walls and enclosures. This bill would provide that prisoners who are required to register pursuant to the Sex Offender Registration Act and who are sentenced to an indeterminate sentence shall be ineligible for parole unless the prisoner has been evaluated by 2 practicing psychiatrists or practicing licensed psychologists, or one practicing psychiatrist and one practicing licensed psychologist, appointed as specified, and both of these professionals have determined that the prisoner poses no danger to society based on an interview and the administration of the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory. The bill would require any psychiatrist or licensed psychologist performing an evaluation pursuant to these provisions to take into consideration that prisoner's initial sentencing memorandum that was issued when the prisoner was sentenced in court. The bill would provide qualification requirements for the psychiatrists or licensed psychologists performing this evaluation. The bill would provide that in the event that the evaluating psychiatrists or licensed psychologists conclude that their assessments affirmatively support the prisoner's release on parole, the board shall nonetheless retain discretion to deny parole based on any other criteria considered by the board.