S 2159Police & Prisons

Criminals - Correctional Institutions - Parole

This bill requires that one member of the state parole board be a formerly incarcerated person with relevant professional experience.

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Introduced Jan 16, 2026Committee Senate Judiciary

Plain-English Summary

This legislation modifies the requirements for individuals appointed by the governor to serve on the state parole board. Currently, the board consists of seven members with various professional backgrounds. This bill mandates that one of these seven members must be a person who was formerly incarcerated or directly impacted by the criminal legal system. To qualify, this individual must have completed their probation and parole at least three years prior and possess a background in specific fields such as psychology, mental health, transitional housing, re-entry, education, or law.

For younger readers

There is a group of people called a parole board who decide when someone in prison is ready to come home. This bill changes the rules for who can be on that board. It says that one of the people on the board must be someone who was in prison before but has been out for at least three years. This person also needs to know about helping people, like understanding mental health or how to find a house. This helps make sure the board understands what it is like to be in prison.

Who & Where It Applies

Impacted groups

Parole Board nomineesFormerly incarcerated individualsPrisoners seeking paroleGovernor of Rhode IslandVictims of crime

Impacted communities

All

Constitutional & Fiscal Check

None Likely

Estimated cost

None

Estimated revenue

None

Bill Analysis

Both viewpoints

For Progressives

Ensures that the perspectives of those with "lived experience" in the carceral system are included in high-level decision-making, promoting a more humane and realistic approach to parole.
Validates the potential for rehabilitation and reintegration by placing a formerly incarcerated individual in a position of state authority and trust.
May lead to better outcomes for parolees, as a board member with re-entry experience can better identify the specific support systems needed for successful transition back into society.
Designating only one seat out of seven may be viewed as tokenism, potentially leaving the member isolated or unable to significantly sway the board's overall culture.
The requirement for specific professional backgrounds (e.g., psychology, law) creates a barrier that excludes many formerly incarcerated activists who possess wisdom but lack formal credentials.
The mandatory three-year waiting period post-probation/parole could be seen as an arbitrary restriction that prevents otherwise qualified and rehabilitated individuals from serving sooner.

For Conservatives

Requires the appointee to have specific professional qualifications in relevant fields, ensuring the board member brings technical expertise rather than just personal history.
Mandates a three-year period of clean conduct following probation or parole, providing a safeguard that the individual has truly adhered to the rule of law before judging others.
Maintains the overall structure of the board while potentially adding practical insight into offender compliance, which could improve the efficiency of the parole process.
Places a formerly convicted criminal in a role of judgment over other inmates, which some may view as undermining the moral authority and standards of the justice system.
Creates a risk that the board member may harbor biases against law enforcement or be overly lenient toward dangerous offenders due to shared experiences.
Codifies identity politics into state appointments by mandating a specific seat based on criminal history rather than simply selecting the most qualified citizen available.

Votes

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Full Bill Text

Changes to existing Rhode Island law · 6 additions · 1 deletion

SECTION 1. Section 13-8-2 of the General Laws in Chapter 13-8 entitled "Parole" is hereby amended to read as follows: 13-8-2. Qualifications of board members. The seven (7) electors to be named by the governor shall have the following qualifications: (1)(i) One of the qualified electors shall be a psychologist or a physician who is professionally qualified in the field of psychiatry or neurology;

(ii) One shall be a member in good standing of the Rhode Island bar;

(iii) One shall be a person who is professionally trained in correctional work or in some closely related general field as a social work; ~~and~~

(iv) One shall be a law enforcement officer; and

(v) One shall be a person formerly incarcerated or directly impacted by the criminal legal system who has completed the probation and parole process three (3) or more years prior with a background in one of the following areas: psychology, mental health and/or substance use, transitional housing, re-entry after incarceration, education or law.

(2) All of the qualified electors shall be individuals who shall also have shown an interest in social welfare problems.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.