SB284 - Capital Rape Bill Summary

• Creates new offense of "capital rape" (§ 5-14-114) applicable to sexual offenses against children under 14 years of age committed with aggravating circumstances including: serious physical injury, concurrent felonies, commercial sex trafficking, deadly weapons, or prior rape conviction

• Establishes capital rape as punishable by death or life imprisonment without parole for defendants 18 or older at time of offense; defendants under 18 sentenced to life with parole eligibility after 30 years minimum

• Applies capital murder trial and sentencing procedures (§ 5-4-601 et seq.) to capital rape cases, including aggravating/mitigating circumstances findings and jury requirements

• Extends no parole eligibility to adults convicted of capital rape unless under 18 at offense; creates parole eligibility standards for juvenile offenders emphasizing maturity and rehabilitation

• Makes capital rape comparable to capital murder in over 50 statutory references affecting statutes of limitations, prosecutorial procedures, judicial qualifications, background checks, sex offender registration, and victim rights