SB17-095: Death Penalty Repeal Act

• Repeals the death penalty in Colorado for offenses committed on or after July 1, 2017; does not affect sentences imposed before that date

• Replaces capital punishment with mandatory life imprisonment without possibility of parole for Class 1 felony convictions

• Establishes that life imprisonment is the maximum sentence for Class 1 felonies committed after July 1, 2017, with mandatory parole periods based on offense severity

• Makes conforming amendments to appellate review procedures, bail provisions, and sentencing hearing requirements to reflect elimination of death penalty

• Cites legislative findings that death penalty is failed policy due to risk of executing innocent persons, unequal application across judicial districts, high costs, and international isolation of retaining capital punishment