259-j. Discharge of sentence. 1. Except where a determinate sentence was imposed for a felony other than a felony defined in article two hundred twenty or article two hundred twenty-one of the penal law, if the board of parole is satisfied that an absolute discharge from presumptive release, parole, conditional release or release to a period of post-release supervision is in the best interests of society, the board may grant such a discharge prior to the expiration of the full term or maximum term to any person who has been on unrevoked community supervision for at least three consecutive years. A discharge granted under this section shall constitute a termination of the sentence with respect to which it was granted. No such discharge shall be granted unless the board is satisfied that the parolee or releasee, otherwise financially able to comply with an order of restitution and the payment of any mandatory surcharge, sex offender registration fee or DNA databank fee previously imposed by a court of competent jurisdiction, has made a good faith effort to comply therewith.
2. The chairman of the board of parole shall promulgate rules and regulations governing the issuance of discharges from community supervision pursuant to this section to assure that such discharges are consistent with public safety.
3. Notwithstanding any other provision of this section to the contrary, where a term of post-release supervision in excess of five years has been imposed on a person convicted of a crime defined in article one hundred thirty of the penal law, including a sexually motivated felony, the board of parole may grant a discharge from post-release supervision prior to the expiration of the maximum term of post-release supervision. Such a discharge may be granted only after the person has served at least five years of post-release supervision, and only to a person who has been on unrevoked post-release supervision for at least three consecutive years. No such discharge shall be granted unless the board of parole or the department acting pursuant to its responsibility under subdivision one of section two hundred one of the correction law consults with any licensed psychologist, qualified psychiatrist, or other mental health professional who is providing care or treatment to the supervisee; and the board: (a) determines that a discharge from post-release supervision is in the best interests of society; and (b) is satisfied that the supervisee, otherwise financially able to comply with an order of restitution and the payment of any mandatory surcharge, sex offender registration fee, or DNA data bank fee previously imposed by a court of competent jurisdiction, has made a good faith effort to comply therewith. Before making a determination to discharge a person from a period of post-release supervision, the board of parole may request that the commissioner of the office of mental health arrange a psychiatric evaluation of the supervisee. A discharge granted under this section shall constitute a termination of the sentence with respect to which it was granted.
Last modified: February 3, 2019