Parole commission director explains rules changes tied to 2024 law; two nominees introduced

Christine Starr, executive director of the Idaho Commission of Pardons and Parole, told the Senate Judiciary and Rules Committee that a pending rule change aligns the commission’s pardon-application timeframe with statutory changes enacted by the 2024 Legislature and that the commission faces staffing and workload challenges.

The committee approved docket number 5001012401 — rules for the Commission of Pardons and Parole — by motion and voice vote. The rulemaking updates a provision to add felony domestic violence (statute referenced in the record as section 18-918) and attempted strangulation to the list of offenses subject to a 15-year waiting period before a person may apply for a pardon, reflecting statutory changes enacted in House Bill 600 (2024). Starr said the rule clarifies the time frame in light of the Idaho…