NC H775

Eliminates life without parole (LWOP) sentences for defendants convicted of first degree murder who were under age 18 at the time of the offense, requiring life imprisonment with parole eligibility instead.

Requires defendants under 18 convicted of first degree murder by felony murder rule to be sentenced to life imprisonment with parole, eligible for parole consideration after serving 25 years imprisonment.

Makes defendants under 18 convicted of crimes other than first degree murder and sentenced to more than 15 years imprisonment eligible for parole consideration after serving 15 years imprisonment.

Establishes sentencing hearing procedures where courts must consider mitigating factors including age, immaturity, intellectual capacity, mental health, and likelihood of rehabilitation before determining sentence.

Parole term for juveniles released under this Act is set at five years and cannot be terminated earlier by the Post-Release Supervision and Parole Commission; becomes effective December 1, 2019 for offenses committed on or after that date.