MS SB2098

Establishes new sentencing guidelines for juveniles (under age 18) convicted of first-degree murder, second-degree murder, or capital murder, removing life without parole as a sentencing option and replacing it with determinate sentences of 10-50 years depending on the offense and jury verdict.

Makes juveniles convicted of murder offenses eligible for parole after serving 25% of a definite sentence or 10 years of a life sentence, and applies this parole eligibility retroactively to all juveniles regardless of conviction date.

Allows certain juvenile offenders to be released from the Mississippi Department of Corrections before serving 50% of their sentence, contrary to the standard violent crime requirement.

Requires the State Parole Board to establish tentative parole hearing dates for juvenile offenders convicted before July 1, 2022, by December 31, 2022, and extends the deadline for completing case plans for these offenders to December 31, 2022.

Takes effect July 1, 2023.