PARRIS N. GLENDENING, Governor

Ch. 573

CHAPTER 573
(Senate Bill 254)

AN ACT concerning

Parole Hearings - Oral Testimony by Victims of Violent Crime

FOR the purpose of allowing certain victims or designated representatives, at certain
parole release hearings, to present oral testimony and rebut certain other testimony;
requiring the Parole Commission to consider any oral testimony made by these
victims or designated representatives when making a parole determination; and
generally relating to parole release hearings.

BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments,

Article 41 - Governor - Executive and Administrative Departments

Section 4-504(d) and 4-506

Annotated Code of Maryland

(1993 Replacement Volume and 1995 Supplement)

SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF
MARYLAND, That the Laws of Maryland read as follows:

Article 41 - Governor - Executive and Administrative Departments

4-504.

(d) (1) In this subsection, "victim" means a person who suffers personal physical
injury or death as a direct result of a crime or, if the victim is deceased, a designated
family member of the victim.

(2) (i) In cases where a defendant is sentenced to the Division of
Correction, if the victim makes a written request to the Commission for notification and
maintains a current address on file with the Commission, the Commission, at least 90 days
before the parole release hearing, shall notify the victim or designated representative in
writing, directed to the most current address on file, that a parole release hearing has
been scheduled for the inmate convicted of the commission of the violent crime.

(ii) If the inmate was convicted of a violent crime:

1.       The victim may submit to the Commission, in writing, not
later than 30 days from the date of the Commission's notice, a request to require the
Division of Parole and Probation to complete an updated victim impact statement.

2.       The Division of Parole and Probation shall complete the
updated statement at least 30 days prior to the parole release hearing.

3.       The Division of Parole and Probation shall promptly send the
updated victim impact statement to the Commission.

(iii) At least 30 days before the parole release hearing, the victim may:
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