MS SB2117

Defines "juvenile offender" as a person under age 18 at the time of the offense and prohibits the death penalty for juvenile offenders convicted of capital murder

Allows judges (sitting without a jury) to sentence juvenile offenders convicted of first-degree murder, second-degree murder, or capital murder to life imprisonment, life without parole, or a term of years

Establishes alternative sentencing ranges for juveniles if life imprisonment is deemed unjustified: 20-40 years for first-degree murder, 15-30 years for second-degree murder, and 25-50 years for capital murder

Requires courts to consider factors specific to juvenile offenders when determining sentences, including youth, criminal intent, understanding of consequences, capacity for change, and whether the defendant is incorrigible

Applies retroactively regardless of when the offense was committed, arrest was made, or conviction was entered, in compliance with the U.S. Supreme Court ruling in Miller v. Alabama