AZ SB1548

Grants parole eligibility to individuals sentenced for offenses committed before age 18, including those sentenced to natural life imprisonment, after serving their minimum sentence or 25 calendar years (for sentences of at least 25 years) or 35 calendar years (for consecutive sentences totaling at least 35 years).

Eliminates natural life sentences without parole for juvenile offenders by requiring that all persons who committed offenses before age 18 receive sentences that include eventual parole eligibility.

Restricts natural life sentences in violent sexual assault and terrorism cases to defendants who were at least 18 years old at the time of the offense.

Applies retroactively to all convictions for offenses committed before the person turned 18, regardless of when the offense occurred or sentence was imposed, automatically adding parole eligibility to existing sentences that lack it.

Declares legislative intent recognizing that juveniles differ from adults in maturity and decision-making capacity, possess greater capacity for rehabilitation, and should not face sentences that permanently foreclose the possibility of release.