SB 1695 Summary

• Repeals capital punishment in Arizona by eliminating the death penalty as a sentencing option and replacing it with life or natural life imprisonment for first degree murder convictions.

• Removes provisions for capital sentencing procedures, including aggravating and mitigating circumstances specific to death penalty cases, and repeals sections 13-752 through 13-759 governing capital case proceedings.

• Changes sentencing for first degree murder to life imprisonment (with eligibility for parole after 25-35 years depending on victim age) or natural life imprisonment (no release on any basis) at the court's discretion.

• Eliminates death penalty references throughout Arizona's criminal code, including provisions related to appeals, jury requirements, postconviction relief procedures, and bail determinations for capital offenses.

• Removes exemptions and special procedures that applied only to death penalty cases, streamlining criminal procedures to apply uniformly to all serious felonies.