(a) Unless otherwise provided by law, every person confined in a Guam penal or correctional institution shall be eligible for release on parole at any time after the service of two-thirds (2/3) of his or
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her fixed sentence or after a greater time set by the Court, which shall state reasons therefor, provided that in the case of an offender sentenced to a term of imprisonment for the commission of a violent crime, such offender may be released conditionally on parole upon completion of eighty-five percent (85%) of his or her fixed sentence or after a greater time set by the Court, which shall state reasons therefor, or in the case of a person sentenced to life imprisonment, after such person has been confined for twenty-five (25) years. (1) Nothing in this Section shall be construed as limiting or mitigating in any fashion the discretionary or mandatory imposition of a sentence of life imprisonment without parole for any offense, as may be detailed elsewhere in this Title or the laws of Guam. (2) For the purposes of this Section, a “violent crime” is defined as one or more of the following: (A) aggravated murder, as defined in 9 GCA § 16.30; (B) murder, as defined in 9 GCA § 16.40; (C) manslaughter, as defined in 9 GCA § 16.50, and when such manslaughter is not involuntary; (D) aggravated assault, as defined in 9 GCA § 19.20, and when it is a felony in the first degree; (E) kidnapping, as defined in 9 GCA § 22.20, and when it is a felony in the first degree; (F) first degree criminal sexual conduct, as defined in 9 GCA § 25.15; (G) second degree criminal sexual conduct, as defined in 9 GCA § 25.20; (H) aggravated arson, as defined in 9 GCA § 34.20; (I) first degree robbery, as defined in 9 GCA § 40.10; or (J) second degree robbery, as defined in 9 GCA § 40.20. (b) The Board shall consider the desirability of parole of each inmate at least sixty (60) days prior to his/her first eligibility. (1) Following such consideration, the Board shall issue a formal order granting or denying parole. (2) If parole is denied, (A) the Board shall state in its order the reasons therefor and the approximate date of next consideration, which shall not be more than one (1) year from the date of the previous consideration, except (i) that if a person imprisoned for the commission of a violent crime has been denied parole by the Board for two (2) consecutive years, the Board shall set the next consideration four (4) years from the date of the previous consideration. (ii) Said person shall not be eligible for parole again for at least four (4) years after the date of the last denial of parole. (B) The Board need not state any reasons for denial if to do so would impair a course of rehabilitative treatment of the inmate. SOURCE: Criminal and Correctional Code (1977), enacted by P.L. 13-185 (Sept. 2, 1976). Repealed and reenacted by P.L. 14-143:18 (Sept. 29, 1978). Subsection (a) amended by P.L. 24-270:2 (Oct. 2, 1998). Subsection (b) amended by P.L. 34-028:2 (July 13, 2017). 2018 NOTE: Subitem designations altered/added in subsection (a) pursuant to 1 GCA § 1606.
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2017 NOTE: Subitem designations added in subsection (b) pursuant to authority granted by 1 GCA § 1606. 2013 NOTE: Pursuant to the authority granted by 1 GCA § 1606, numbers and/or letters were altered to adhere to the Compiler’s alpha-numeric scheme. COMMENT: Note the addition of new §§ 55015 and 39100.2 to the Government Code by P.L. 14-151, effective October 17, 1978. These two sections place restrictions on prisoners’ going outside the boundaries of the Guam Penitentiary without the authority of the Parole Board. But see Court Decision following § 80.48 invalidating these sections.