Maryland Will Remove Governor from Parole Process, Limit Immigration Detention after Veto Override

Maryland Will Remove Governor from Parole Process, Limit Immigration Detention after Veto Override Votes


Maryland’s governors will no longer have a role in parole decisions and counties will be banned from entering into agreements with the federal government to hold detainees in their local jails, after a series of veto override votes in the General Assembly on Tuesday.

The Maryland House of Delegates voted 92-46 to override Republican Gov. Lawrence J. Hogan Jr.’s veto of Senate Bill 202 Tuesday evening, one day after an override vote in the Senate, officially removing the governor from the parole process for people serving life sentences.

Under the legislation, people serving life sentences with the possibility of parole become eligible for release after serving the equivalent of 20 years, accounting for diminution credits. At least six members of the commission must vote in favor of their release.

House Minority Leader Jason Buckel (R-Allegany) argued that the bill allows dangerous individuals back onto the streets, noting that the suspect alleged to have killed 69-year-old Evelyn Player at Southern Baptist Church in Baltimore last month was paroled for violent crimes several times.

Read more: https://www.marylandmatters.org/2021/12/07/maryland-will-remove-governor-from-parole-process-limit-immigration-detention-after-veto-override-votes/