SB16-181 Summary

• Establishes new sentencing options for juveniles convicted as adults of Class 1 felonies committed between July 1, 1990 and July 1, 2006, replacing mandatory life without parole sentences.

• For first-degree murder: Court may impose 30-50 year determinate sentence (with 10-year mandatory parole) if extraordinary mitigating circumstances exist, or life with parole eligibility after 40 years.

• For non-first-degree murder Class 1 felonies: Court must impose life sentence with parole eligibility after 40 years of service.

• Allows sentencing courts to consider youth-related factors including diminished culpability, developmental maturity, capacity for rehabilitation, and victim impact.

• Permits approximately 50 persons currently serving life sentences without parole to petition for resentencing hearings and potentially receive sentence reductions based on these new sentencing guidelines.