An inmate serving under what condition is required to serve 35 calendar years before being eligible for parole?

The requirement for an inmate to serve 35 calendar years before becoming eligible for parole specifically relates to certain enhanced sentencing provisions under Section 12.42(c)(2). This section typically applies to repeat offenders who have committed serious crimes and have already been convicted of prior felonies, leading to an increased sentence. The enhanced nature of the punishment under this provision is a reflection of the offender's history and the severity of the crimes committed.

In this context, capital felony offenses generally carry the possibility of life without parole or the death penalty, which doesn't align with eligibility for parole after 35 years. Serious violent offenses and drug-related offenses can lead to significant prison time, but the specific threshold of 35 years is tied to the more stringent criteria established in Section 12.42(c)(2). Thus, the stipulation of 35 calendar years before parole eligibility underscores the legal system's approach to dealing with repeat offenders in a more rigorous manner.