In 2025, Georgia lawmakers had a chance to deliver real change to the state’s broken parole system. Senate Bill 25 (SB25) was introduced with bold ideas: parole hearings, written decisions, and accountability. But despite early momentum, SB25 never made it out of committee. The bill stalled—and so did the hope of thousands of incarcerated Georgians who have been trapped in a system that refuses to offer a real path to redemption.
But we’re not giving up. In 2026, we need to push harder. And this time, we need to go even further. Georgia needs what we’re calling the Second Chance Parole Reform Act—a more complete, more transparent, more humane parole system. (#2ndChanceParoleReform)
Why Georgia’s Parole System Is Failing
Georgia’s parole process is opaque, arbitrary, and broken by design. Inmates are considered for parole behind closed doors, often with no hearing, no opportunity to speak, and no explanation when denied.
Even those with life-with-parole sentences are waiting 30, 40, sometimes 50 years or more to be released—if they’re ever released at all. Many die in prison long after they’ve transformed. As one man wrote from behind bars:
“My roommate had done 41 years. No DRs in 30. After receiving yet another set-off from the parole board – he just gave up. He stopped talking and started sleeping all the time. He died at 59, not from violence, but from hopelessness. The state decided to punish him until the day he died.”
In 2024 alone, Georgia saw 332 deaths in custody, including over 100 confirmed homicides. Suicides and medical neglect took many more. Inmates are dying from despair, and the parole board holds the key—but refuses to open the door 1.
What SB25 Tried to Do
- Allowed parole-eligible inmates to request a video hearing before the full board
- Required written reasons when parole was denied or delayed
- Mandated notice to all board members if a parole denial was imminent
- Made these steps legally enforceable through mandamus
It was a strong step toward fairness and transparency—but we may only get one chance to get this right, so here’s what we propose:
The Second Chance Parole Reform Act
Here’s how we improve the broken parole system in a meaningful and fail way, using examples from other states:
1. Presumptive Parole: Grant parole automatically to those who meet defined benchmarks (good behavior, completed programs, reentry plan)—unless there’s clear cause not to.
2. Clear, Written Parole Criteria: Require the parole board to publish a list of actions inmates can take to increase their chances. Tell people what they need to do to earn release.
3. Guaranteed Hearings with Full Board: Every parole-eligible inmate should get a video or in-person hearing with the full board, with a transcript available.
4. Written Reasons for Denial: Require fact-based, detailed explanations every time parole is denied, citing specific program needs or behavioral concerns.
5. Shorter Reconsideration Intervals: Limit parole deferrals to three years maximum—or one year for elderly or terminally ill prisoners.
6. Individualized Parole Plans: Every inmate should receive a parole case plan upon entering prison, showing what they need to complete.
7. Annual Public Report: Require the parole board to publish data on grant rates, reasons for denials, and departures from guidelines.
8. Balanced Victim Input: Ensure victim statements are weighed alongside risk assessments, rehabilitation progress, and expert input.
9. Independent Oversight: Create a parole ombudsman or inspector general to review denials and investigate inconsistencies.
10. Fast-Track for Geriatric or Medical Parole: Require decisions within 30 days for terminally ill or elderly inmates.
Why This Matters Now
Georgia’s parole board claims it uses guidelines to determine who gets released—but the reality is, those guidelines are suggestions, not rules. Inmates who do everything right—stay charge-free, complete programs, get support letters—are still routinely denied with no explanation.
The current law (O.C.G.A. § 42-9-45(a)) requires the parole board to establish clear eligibility standards. But it does not require them to explain how someone actually earns parole. That’s the loophole. And that’s what we need to close.
To date, courts have sided with the board, ruling that inmates have no right to parole—only the right to be considered. But “considered” is meaningless if the board refuses to explain itself, ignores its own guidelines, and locks people away for life despite rehabilitation.
This is how we end up with:
- People doing 40+ years on life-with-parole sentences
- People dying in prison after decades of good behavior
- Hundreds of deaths a year with no accountability
- A prison system that is over-crowded and unsafe
The lack of parole is directly tied to the crisis of violence, hopelessness, and overcrowding in Georgia’s prisons. If we want to fix that, we start by letting people go—especially the elderly, the sick, and those who’ve clearly changed.
Related Reading
If you want to understand the full scope of this crisis, read these:
• Decarceration: A Solution to Georgia’s Prison Crisis
• Guilty Until Proven Innocent
• Nutrition Neglect: How Georgia’s Prison Food Is Fueling Violence
What You Can Do
The Second Chance Parole Reform Act won’t pass unless we demand it. Use ImpactJustice.AI to email your legislators, the parole board, and the media. Tell them you support #2ndChanceParoleReform.
No one should die in prison because a system refused to listen.
It’s time to open the door.
Read the proposed legislation:
Georgia General Assembly
SECOND CHANCE PAROLE REFORM ACT OF 2026
AN ACT
To amend Title 42 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, so as to improve parole transparency, fairness, and accountability; to revise provisions regarding parole eligibility, hearings, written findings, and board procedures; to establish presumptive parole standards; to require individualized parole case plans and public reporting; to provide for legislative oversight; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
⸻
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:
SECTION 1.
Title 42 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to penal institutions, is amended by adding a new Code section to read as follows:
42-9-43.2. Second Chance Parole Reform Provisions.
(a) Presumptive Parole Eligibility.
(1) Any eligible offender who has completed all required programming, maintained a record of good conduct for three years, and established a viable reentry plan shall be granted parole at their earliest parole eligibility date unless the board determines, by clear and convincing evidence, that release poses an unreasonable risk to public safety.
(2) If parole is denied under this subsection, the board shall issue a written explanation citing the specific risk factors or institutional concerns that justify denial.
(b) Parole Hearings.
(1) Any eligible offender who:
(A) is serving a sentence of life with parole,
(B) has served at least 20 years of their sentence,
may submit a written request for a parole consideration hearing.
(2) Within 60 days of receiving such a request, the board shall hold a video or in-person hearing, with all members of the board present.
(3) The hearing shall include review of the following factors:
(A) The circumstances and severity of the offense;
(B) The offender’s institutional behavior and program completions;
(C) Risk assessments and reentry preparation;
(D) Statements of support from family, community, or clergy;
(E) Input from victims or their families;
(F) Prosecutorial and judicial input;
(G) Any other relevant mitigating or aggravating evidence.
(c) Written Findings and Explanation of Decisions.
(1) For any decision to deny or delay parole after a hearing under this Code section, the board shall issue written findings of fact explaining its decision and referencing the evidence relied upon.
(2) Such findings shall be provided to the offender, included in the case file, and retained for public reporting purposes, subject to privacy redactions.
(d) Reconsideration Interval Limitations.
(1) The board shall not defer reconsideration of parole for longer than three years from the date of denial.
(2) If the offender is age 55 or older, or has a chronic or terminal medical condition verified by a licensed physician, reconsideration shall occur annually.
(e) Parole Case Plan.
(1) Within 90 days of an offender’s intake, the Department of Corrections, in consultation with the board, shall create an individualized parole case plan outlining:
(A) Program requirements;
(B) Behavioral expectations;
(C) Educational or vocational goals;
(D) Reentry preparation benchmarks.
(2) The board shall consider completion of this plan when making parole decisions.
(f) Public Transparency and Annual Reporting.
(1) The board shall publish an annual report detailing:
(A) Total number of parole decisions issued;
(B) Grant rates by offense class and sentence type;
(C) Reasons for denial, categorized by primary factors;
(D) Demographic breakdown of parole decisions;
(E) Deviations from parole guidelines.
(g) Independent Oversight.
(1) A Parole Oversight Ombudsman shall be appointed by the Governor to:
(A) Audit parole decisions;
(B) Investigate complaints;
(C) Ensure compliance with this Code section;
(D) Report findings annually to the legislature.
(h) Geriatric and Medical Parole Expedited Review.
(1) Any offender over age 62, or diagnosed as terminally ill with life expectancy under two years, shall be entitled to a parole review within 30 days of request.
(2) The board shall expedite consideration and issue a written decision within 15 days of the hearing.
(i) Mandatory Participation of Board Members.
(1) If three or more board members vote to deny parole after any hearing under this section, the other members shall be notified and allowed 14 days to confer before the denial becomes final.
(j) Mandamus Enforcement.
(1) The duties imposed under this Code section shall be deemed nondiscretionary.
(2) If the board fails to comply with its obligations under this section, such failure may be subject to mandamus under O.C.G.A. § 9-6-20.
SECTION 2.
All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.
Yes!! Thank you all so much for helping us push this bill to the public and legislators. We are looking forward to a big turn out of the people in 2026 . As we will be going into a hearing with the subcommittee on the bill. As it gets closer to time we will definitely be keeping all informed. My name is Stephanie Willoughby President of 2nd Chance Parole Reform founders of bill sb25 .
GPS has updated ImpactJustice.AI to advocate for the Second Chance Parole Reform Act any time the user selects Parole as a discussion topic. We hope that people will use this to push the information to media outlets as well as our legislature.
I have been in prison for thirty seven years and the violence in the prison system is terrible. The screening of prisoners is not like the early 80sand 90s. You have children trying to control children . People are dying because they have given up . You have men and woman in Georgia prisons whom have corrected their mind sets., yet, georgia parole board keep letting the same repeated offenders out and refusing those whom have great instructional behavior . Individuals with life with parole whom have completed their case plans and have not received a infraction in 15years or more.. Its inhuman what they are doing . Its a form of morden day slavery and systematic oppression and genocide.
Thank you for sharing your truth — thirty-seven years inside is more than enough to see how deeply this system has failed. Everything you said is real: the violence, the lack of proper screening, and the despair that comes when good men and women who’ve changed their lives are denied the second chance they’ve earned.
Georgia’s parole system is broken by design — it releases repeat offenders while keeping rehabilitated people trapped, because that keeps the prisons full and the contracts paid. It is modern-day slavery, and you’re right to call it what it is: systemic oppression that values profit over humanity.
At Georgia Prisoners’ Speak, we’re fighting to expose this and to push for Second Chance Parole Reform — to make sure people like you, who have done the work, are given a real path home. You’ve done your part; now it’s time the system did its.
Stay strong. Your words carry weight, and your story helps fuel this movement for justice.
Thank you for helping pushing the Bill although my loved one is gone because of this horrendous things that they do and not helping I hope and pray this bill will be passed in lawmakers will make better decisions and think of the humane people that are behind bars instead of like their animals and don’t care or they have no rights this needs to change!
Hi Parole Board
I think each individual should have a chance for parole, and also giving information as to what they can do to earn a early release. 1) Good behavior for three consecutive years,2) C look asses taken to ensure they are trying to improve.3) Show credibility as to how they want to move forward in the world outside prison, remose as to how they feel about the crime they committed. Every one deserves a changes especially when they are trying regain there sanity.
4) Each inmate should be given medical treatment.5) Counseling is always goid because one suffer as well physical and mental dealing with other who are not trying to improve there circumstance.6) Inmate have families, children,parents ,cousin that need them,just as they need them.We have to give them a chance to improve,don’t fail the system fix the system.I’m sure if you were in there shoe its what you would want to happen to you are your family members!!! So many have been victim of the broken system and NIW its time for healling!!! Forgiveness and Mercy is what justice is isn’t it??? We all make mistake no matter what they are .small large harsh ,innocent. Everyday we sin against God every moment of day,in our mind ,things we say ,do,thinking about doing.done and hid it.still we were Forgiven by this so we need to do the same these people are human. Matthew 18:21,22
Ok so 1 sb25 will be back in sub committee again in 2026 for a hearing at which time we the people will be able to speak further. Being the Organization that helped right the bill 2nd Chance Parole Reform we are still pushing sb25 to pass in 2026. I would like to know who is present the revised proposal to sb25 so we can collaborate further on getting everyone in attendance for sb25 to pass in 2026 .
The key to this article is:
The “presumptive parole” provision in the Second Chance Parole Reform Act of 2026 would effectively create a legally enforceable right or entitlement to parole once the specified conditions are met, unless the Board proves by clear and convincing evidence that release poses an unreasonable risk.
This is really important as it would give inmates a legally Protected Liberty Interest (under the 14th Amendment Due Process Clause)
This concept comes from U.S. Supreme Court precedent — most notably:
• Greenholtz v. Inmates of Nebraska Penal and Correctional Complex, 442 U.S. 1 (1979)
• Board of Pardons v. Allen, 482 U.S. 369 (1987)
In Allen, the Court held that when a state’s parole statute uses mandatory language (e.g., “shall be granted” unless certain findings are made), it creates a liberty interest in parole that’s protected by due process.
We specifically added this for that reason.
If Georgia adopted this presumptive standard (“shall be granted parole unless…”):
• Inmates who meet the criteria would have a legitimate expectation of release.
• Denials would have to follow the statute’s due process — clear and convincing evidence, written findings, and timely review.
• If the Board failed to comply, inmates could petition for mandamus or file a 14th Amendment due process claim asserting denial of their liberty interest.
SB25 must have this language at a minimum if it’s going to have any teeth in it.
We the people whom have no voice behind these walls like to say thanks to everyone who has mad d this stage possible. We are broken and tied of the hope that only seem to be a dream. We hold on just to fall back down after doing the best we know how to walk a thigh line toward the road back in society. Thanks again from all of us waiting for a road of equality and justice.
Thank you so much for your words — they mean more than you know. Your message reminds us exactly why we fight every day to make this movement real. The people behind these walls are not forgotten, and your courage gives strength to everyone working on the outside to demand change.
We know how exhausting it is to keep hope alive when the system keeps breaking promises. But hope isn’t a dream — it’s a mission, and we’re in it together until equality and justice are more than just words.
Stay strong. Keep believing. Your voice is being heard.