CS/HB 7137 - Juvenile Sentencing

• Creates sentencing restrictions for juveniles under 18 at time of offense: persons convicted of capital felonies must receive life imprisonment without parole (not death penalty) if judge determines life imprisonment is appropriate after considering statutory factors.

• Requires judges to consider 10 specific factors when determining if life imprisonment is appropriate for juveniles, including nature of offense, defendant's age/maturity, background, family/peer pressure, prior criminal history, and rehabilitation potential.

• Allows judges to sentence juveniles convicted under s. 782.04 (murder statute) to a term of years equal to life imprisonment instead of mandatory life imprisonment if statutory factors support it.

• Sets maximum sentences for non-murder life felonies committed by juveniles on or after July 1, 2013 at 50 years imprisonment (except for offenses listed in s. 782.04).

• Takes effect July 1, 2013.