In some states, even violent felons face a relatively low bar, with no waiting period before they can apply.
They set out to write a law that would end parole for violent felons.
He had reason to fear the move to a prison that is reserved for the state's most violent felons.
But advocates for the mentally ill say group homes do not accept violent felons.
The Republicans want to end parole for violent felons.
"The solution in the past has been to let the violent felons go back on the street," he said.
He called for an end to parole for all violent felons.
Four more states have eliminated parole release for certain violent felons.
It also killed his effort to eliminate parole for violent felons.
In 1996, more than 60 percent of the violent felons who qualified for a parole hearing were denied.