AI-assisted research summary: When a parole panel is considering parole or mandatory supervision for an inmate whose offense had a victim, it must allow certain victim-related people to submit written statements and to appear in person, and it must consider those statements when deciding whether to recommend release.
Sec. 508.153. STATEMENTS OF VICTIM. (a) A parole panel considering for release on parole or mandatory supervision an inmate who is serving a sentence for an offense in which a person was a victim shall allow: (1) the victim, a guardian of the victim, a close relative of the deceased victim, or a representative of the victim, the victim's guardian, or the victim's close relative to provide a written statement to the panel; and (2) the victim, guardian of the victim, or close relative of the deceased victim to appear in person before the board members to present a statement of the person's views about: (A) the offense; (B) the inmate; and (C) the effect of the offense on the victim. (b) If more than one person is entitled to appear in person before the board members or parole commissioners, only the person chosen by all persons entitled to appear as the persons' sole representative may appear. (c) The panel shall consider the statements and the information provided in a victim impact statement in determining whether to recommend an inmate for release on parole. (d) This section does not limit the number of persons who may provide written statements for or against the release of the inmate on parole. (e) In this section: (1) "Close relative of a deceased victim" means a person who, regardless of whether the victim's death was related to the offense committed, was: (A) the spouse of the victim at the time of the victim's death; (B) a parent of the deceased victim; (C) an adult brother, sister, or child of the deceased victim; or (D) the nearest relative of the deceased victim by consanguinity, if the persons described by Paragraphs (A) through (C) are deceased or are incapacitated due to physical or mental illness or infirmity. (2) "Guardian of a victim" and "victim" have the meanings assigned by Section 508.117. Added by Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 165, Sec. 12.01, eff. Sept. 1, 1997. Amended by Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 856, Sec. 6, eff. Sept. 1, 2001; Acts 2003, 78th Leg., 3rd C.S., ch. 3, Sec. 11.19, eff. Jan. 11, 2004. Amended by: Acts 2023, 88th Leg., R.S., Ch. 471 (H.B. 517), Sec. 2, eff. September 1, 2023.