| Vote Recommendation | Economic Freedom | Property Rights | Personal Responsibility | Limited Government | Individual Liberty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yes | Neutral | Neutral | Positive | Positive | Neutral |
Summary: Under current law, the Board of Pardons and Paroles is required to adopt a policy specifying the date the board can reconsider an inmate's release on parole. Certain inmates are restricted from early reconsideration based on the severity of their crime. Currently, capital murder and aggravated sexual assault are not included in this restriction. HB 1337 adds capital murder and aggravated sexual assault to crimes that restrict an inmate from early parole reconsideration.
Analysis: Capital murder and aggravated sexual assault are heinous crimes. Individuals who commit these crimes belong in jail for a lengthy period of time. Restricting these individuals who have already been denied parole from receiving the benefit of earlier reconsideration keeps these offenders incarcerated longer. For these reasons, TPPA recommends voting YES on HB 1337.