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MarylandSB 01812025 Regular SessionSenateWALLET

Correctional Services - Geriatric and Medical Parole

Sponsored By: Shelly Hettleman (Democratic)

Signed by Governor

CorrectionsAge -see also- Age of Maj; Children; Elderly; Inf&Tod.; etcCommittees and CommissionsCorrectional Institutions -see also- Patuxent InstitutionDeath -see also- Homicide; Murder; Wrongful DeathDisabilitiesDisciplineElderly Persons (65+) -see also- Elder Abuse and NeglectGovernorHealth -see also- COVID19; EnvHlth; MedCon; etc.Health Care Facilities -see also- Clinics; Hospices; etcHealth Occupations -see also- (specific health occupations)HearingsHospitals -see also- Clinics; State HospitalsHousing -see also- Apartments; Condos; Mobile & Manuf HomesIncarcerated IndividualsLong-Term Care -see also- Continuing Care; Nursing HomesMedical Conditions -see also- AIDS; COVID-19; rabiesMedical TreatmentsMental and Behavioral Health -see also- Aut; Cogn; Dev; etc.NoticesParole and ProbationPersonal RepresentativesPhysicians -see also- MedExmnrs; Pediatr; Psychiatrists etc.Prerelease and ReentryPsychologistsPublic Safety and Correctional Services, Department ofRecords -see also- Land Records; Vital RecordsRecruitment and HiringRepeat OffendersReportsRevenue and Taxes -see also- (specific tax)Rules and RegulationsTimeVictims -see also- Criminal Injuries CompensationViolence -see also- Domestic Violence; Hate Crimes

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

6 provisions identified: 4 benefits, 2 costs, 0 mixed.

Medical parole opens earlier release options

Beginning October 1, 2025, medical parole allows release before ordinary parole eligibility, including for people serving life sentences. All sentences being served must allow parole. A licensed doctor must find a terminal illness or chronic disability or incapacity that substantially limits self-care. Extended medical care must be better provided in the community, and the person must not pose a public-safety danger. The Governor can no longer reject medical parole for someone serving a life sentence.

Medical parole carries continuing release conditions

The Commission may require medical care, suitable housing, and authentic medical records showing that the condition supporting release continues. Suitable housing can include a family home; these conditions are not automatic for every medical parolee. Return to custody is required when a licensed doctor makes all the required medical and safety findings. The person must no longer have a qualifying chronic or terminal condition or need extended medical care better provided in the community. The doctor must also find that the person is physically able to pose a danger or poses a public-safety danger.

Older prisoners face tighter parole access

Geriatric parole now requires age 65 and 20 years served, up from age 60 and 15 years served. All sentences must allow parole, and people defined as sex offenders are excluded. Applicants must have no Category 1A disciplinary violations during the past 3 years. The law also repeals the separate age-60, 15-years-served parole path for people sentenced under Maryland’s repeat violent-offender law. After a geriatric parole denial, another hearing requires a 5-year wait unless extraordinary and compelling circumstances justify an earlier hearing.

Free exams strengthen medical parole reviews

The Maryland Parole Commission must review medical records, treatment recommendations, discharge plans, and case information before granting medical parole. An authorized requester can obtain a free, in-person independent medical exam whose findings receive equal consideration. A person in prison or their representative can also request a meeting with the Commission. Meetings are required for people currently in an infirmary or outside hospital, or frequently in either during the past 6 months. Other requested meetings remain optional for the Commission.

Older prisoners gain structured parole review

The Commission must consider age in parole decisions and weigh how aging affects repeat-offense risk in geriatric cases. Each geriatric candidate submitted as eligible must receive a hearing and suitability decision. For eligible people serving combined sentences of at least 40 years for multiple violent crimes, risk assessments must be ordered within 60 days. Assessments are optional for others; hearings follow completed assessments or occur as soon as possible when none is ordered. Beginning October 1, 2025, the Commission must try to prioritize medical and geriatric parole hearings and recommendations.

Prison savings support parole and reentry

Maryland’s corrections department must use geriatric parole savings for risk assessments, parole hearings, and prerelease and reentry services. The Justice Reinvestment Oversight Board may also recommend using some remaining reinvestment savings to hire psychologists for geriatric parole assessments. No funding amount is set.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Shelly Hettleman

    Democratic • Senate

Cosponsors

  • Nick Charles

    Democratic • Senate

  • Shaneka Henson

    Democratic • Senate

  • Sara Love

    Democratic • Senate

  • C. Anthony Muse

    Democratic • Senate

  • William C. Smith

    Democratic • Senate

  • Charles E. Sydnor

    Democratic • Senate

  • Chris West

    Republican • Senate

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 294 • No: 120

House vote • 4/7/2025

Third Reading Passed

Yes: 104 • No: 36 • Other: 1

Senate vote • 4/7/2025

Third Reading Passed

Yes: 35 • No: 12

House vote • 4/3/2025

Third Reading Passed

Yes: 101 • No: 35 • Other: 2

Senate vote • 3/13/2025

Third Reading Passed

Yes: 36 • No: 10

Senate vote • 3/12/2025

Floor Amendment {203426/1 (Senator Corderman) Rejected

Yes: 18 • No: 27 • Other: 2

Actions Timeline

  1. Approved by the Governor - Chapter 102

    4/22/2025

  2. Passed Enrolled

    4/7/2025Senate

  3. Third Reading Passed (104-36)

    4/7/2025House

  4. Conference Committee Report {263024/1 Adopted

    4/7/2025House

  5. Third Reading Passed (35-12)

    4/7/2025Senate

  6. Conference Committee Report {263024/1 Adopted

    4/7/2025Senate

  7. House Conference Committee Appointed (Delegates Bartlett, Kaufman and Clippinger)

    4/7/2025Senate

  8. House Refuses Recede

    4/7/2025Senate

  9. House Conference Committee Appointed (Delegates Bartlett, Kaufman and Clippinger)

    4/7/2025House

  10. House Refuses Recede

    4/7/2025House

  11. Senate Conference Committee Appointed (Senators Smith, Sydnor and West)

    4/7/2025House

  12. Senate Requests House Recede

    4/7/2025House

  13. Senate Refuses Concur House Amendments

    4/7/2025House

  14. Senate Conference Committee Appointed (Senators Smith, Sydnor and West)

    4/5/2025Senate

  15. Senate Requests House Recede

    4/5/2025Senate

  16. Senate Refuses Concur House Amendments

    4/5/2025Senate

  17. Third Reading Passed (101-35)

    4/3/2025House

  18. Second Reading Passed with Amendments

    4/2/2025House

  19. Favorable with Amendments {293421/1 Adopted

    4/2/2025House

  20. Favorable with Amendments Report by Judiciary

    4/1/2025House

  21. Hearing 3/25 at 1:00 p.m.

    3/19/2025House

  22. Referred Judiciary

    3/13/2025House

  23. Third Reading Passed (36-10)

    3/13/2025Senate

  24. Second Reading Passed with Amendments

    3/12/2025Senate

  25. Floor Amendment {203426/1 (Senator Corderman) Rejected (18-27)

    3/12/2025Senate

Bill Text

  • Enacted

    4/22/2025

    PDF

  • Enrolled

    4/7/2025

    PDF

  • Third Reading

    3/12/2025

    PDF

  • First Reading

    1/8/2025

    PDF

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