Bill requires killers to serve 50% of sentence

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) – The Rhode Island Senate approved legislation on Tuesday that will require convicted murderers to serve at least 50% of a sentence prior to being eligible for parole.

The legislation will apply the 50% state requirement to those convicted of first or second degree murder who have not been sentenced to life in prison.

“Individuals who commit first- and second-degree murder should be expected to serve at least a majority of their sentences and really, I think, they should be serving their full sentences for such a heinous crime,” said Senator Raptakis, the bill’s sponsor.

Senator Raptakis said that the renewed urgency for enacting the law this year was due to the recent parole granted to Alfred Brissette Jr, who was granted parole after only serving 15 years of a 35 year murder sentence.

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In his testimony, Senator Raptakis also cited the case of Andrew Jett, who was freed on parole after serving less than half of a 40 year sentence.

The legislation will now go to the House of Representatives for consideration.