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<section article="gcs" article_name="Correctional Services" number="7-309" title_number="7" title_name="Parole, Release on Mandatory Supervision, and Executive Clemency" subtitle_number="3" subtitle_name="Eligibility for Parole; Parole Hearings">
  <level label="a">
    <level label="1">
      <text>In this section the following words have the meanings indicated.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <level label="i">
        <text>“Chronically debilitated or incapacitated” means having a diagnosable medical condition that is unlikely to improve in the future and substantially diminishes the ability of the individual to provide self–care.</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>“Chronically debilitated or incapacitated” includes conditions such as dementia or a severe, permanent medical or cognitive disability if the condition substantially diminishes the ability of the individual to provide self–care.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>“Terminal illness” means a disease or condition with an end–of–life trajectory.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="b">
    <text>This section applies to any incarcerated individual who is sentenced to a term of incarceration for which all sentences being served, including any life sentence, are with the possibility of parole.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="c">
    <text>An incarcerated individual may be released on medical parole at any time during the term of that incarcerated individual’s sentence, without regard to the eligibility standards specified in § 7–301 of this subtitle if a licensed physician has determined that the incarcerated individual:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <level label="i">
        <text>is chronically debilitated or incapacitated; or</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>suffers from a terminal illness; and</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <level label="i">
        <text>requires extended medical management with health care needs that would be better met by community services; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <level label="1">
          <text>has been rendered physically incapable of presenting a danger to society by a physical or mental health condition, disease, or syndrome; or</text>
        </level>
        <level label="2">
          <text>is no longer a danger to public safety.</text>
        </level>
      </level>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="d">
    <level label="1">
      <text>The information to be considered by the Commission before granting medical parole shall, at a minimum, include:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <level label="1">
          <text>a recommendation by the medical professional treating the incarcerated individual under contract with the Department or local correctional facility; or</text>
        </level>
        <level label="2">
          <text>if requested by an individual identified in subsection (e)(1) of this section, one medical evaluation conducted at no cost to the incarcerated individual by a licensed physician who is independent from the Division of Correction or local correctional facility;</text>
        </level>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>the incarcerated individual’s medical information, including:</text>
        <level label="1">
          <text>a description of the incarcerated individual’s condition, disease, or syndrome;</text>
        </level>
        <level label="2">
          <text>a prognosis concerning the likelihood of recovery from the condition, disease, or syndrome;</text>
        </level>
        <level label="3">
          <text>a description of the incarcerated individual’s physical incapacity; and</text>
        </level>
        <level label="4">
          <text>a mental health evaluation, where relevant;</text>
        </level>
      </level>
      <level label="iii">
        <text>discharge information, including:</text>
        <level label="1">
          <text>availability of treatment or professional services within the community;</text>
        </level>
        <level label="2">
          <text>family support within the community; and</text>
        </level>
        <level label="3">
          <text>housing availability, including hospital or hospice care; and</text>
        </level>
      </level>
      <level label="iv">
        <text>case management information, including:</text>
        <level label="1">
          <text>the circumstances of the current offense;</text>
        </level>
        <level label="2">
          <text>institutional history;</text>
        </level>
        <level label="3">
          <text>pending charges, sentences in other jurisdictions, and any other detainers; and</text>
        </level>
        <level label="4">
          <text>criminal history information.</text>
        </level>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>If a medical evaluation is requested under paragraph (1)(i)2 of this subsection:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>the evaluation shall consist of an in–person examination of the incarcerated individual; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>the Commission shall give equal consideration to the findings of the evaluation and any medical condition detailed in the evaluation in considering whether to grant medical parole.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="e">
    <level label="1">
      <text>A request for a medical parole under this section may be filed with the Maryland Parole Commission by:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>the incarcerated individual seeking the medical parole;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>an attorney;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iii">
        <text>a prison official or employee;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iv">
        <text>a medical professional;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="v">
        <text>a family member; or</text>
      </level>
      <level label="vi">
        <text>any other person.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>The request shall be in writing and shall articulate the grounds that support the appropriateness of granting the medical parole.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="f">
    <level label="1">
      <text>The incarcerated individual or the incarcerated individual’s representative may request a meeting with the Commission.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>If a request for a meeting is made under paragraph (1) of this subsection:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>the Commission shall grant the request for a meeting for any incarcerated individual:</text>
        <level label="1">
          <text>housed in an infirmary of a correctional facility;</text>
        </level>
        <level label="2">
          <text>currently hospitalized outside a correctional facility; or</text>
        </level>
        <level label="3">
          <text>who has been frequently housed in an infirmary of a correctional facility or hospitalized outside a correctional facility in the preceding 6 months; and</text>
        </level>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>the Commission may, at its discretion, grant the request for a meeting for any incarcerated individual who does not meet the requirements of item (i) of this paragraph.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="g">
    <text>Following review of the request, the Commission may:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>find the request to be inconsistent with the best interests of public safety and take no further action; or</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>request that Department or local correctional facility personnel provide information for formal consideration of parole release.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="h">
    <text>The Commission may require as a condition of release on medical parole that:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>the parolee agree to placement for a definite or indefinite period of time under the care of a medical provider and in a housing accommodation suitable to the parolee’s medical condition, including the family home of the parolee, as specified by the Commission or the supervising agent; and</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>the parolee forward authentic copies of applicable medical records to indicate that the particular medical condition giving rise to the release continues to exist.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="i">
    <text>A parolee shall be returned to the custody of the Division of Correction or the local correctional facility from which the parolee was released if a licensed physician has determined that the parolee:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <level label="i">
        <text>is no longer chronically debilitated or incapacitated; or</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>no longer suffers from a terminal illness; and</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <level label="i">
        <text>no longer requires extended medical management with health care needs that would be better met by community services; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <level label="1">
          <text>is no longer physically incapable of presenting a danger to society by a physical or mental health condition, disease, or syndrome; or</text>
        </level>
        <level label="2">
          <text>is a danger to society.</text>
        </level>
      </level>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="j">
    <level label="1">
      <text>In this subsection, “imminent death” means death that is likely to occur within 6 months.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>Subject to paragraph (3) of this subsection, provisions of law relating to victim notification and opportunity to be heard shall apply to proceedings relating to medical parole.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>In cases of imminent death, time limits relating to victim notification and opportunity to be heard may be reduced or waived in the discretion of the Commission.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="k">
    <text>The Commission shall adopt regulations to implement the provisions of this section.</text>
  </level>
</section>
