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Bill would require at least one parole board member be a person formerly impacted by criminal justice
Summary
House Bill 5180 would require one member of the Rhode Island Parole Board to be a person directly impacted by the criminal justice system who completed parole/probation at least three years earlier. A current former-board member testified in support, saying lived experience brought valuable perspective.
House Bill 5180 would require one elector on the state parole board to be a person directly impacted by the criminal-justice system who completed any probation or parole process at least three years prior to appointment.
Representative Cruz presented the bill, saying people with lived experience bring unique insights into accountability and rehabilitation. Peter Sloan, who previously served on the parole board and described himself as a formerly incarcerated person, testified in support. Sloan told the committee his lived experience and professional qualifications (work at the Rhode Island Training School, later employment in state roles) informed his approach on the parole board and that he often offered a different perspective on cases involving substance use and mental-health concerns.
Sloan, who said he served about 26 months in custody and later years on probation, said he sometimes dissented on parole panels but that his perspective helped the board assess readiness for release and reintegration. He and Rep. Cruz and others argued codifying a lived-experience seat would improve decisionmaking and bring accountability to parole deliberations.
The committee heard no formal opposition during the public testimony segment and held the bill for further study under the committee's procedural motion.
