H.B. 552 Summary

• Prohibits courts from imposing life without parole sentences on any person for offenses committed when the offender was under eighteen years of age.

• Establishes automatic parole eligibility for juveniles under eighteen at time of offense, with eligibility dates determined under new section 2967.132 (18 years for non-homicide offenses; 25 years for homicide offenses).

• Creates indefinite prison terms with 30-year minimum sentences as alternative to life without parole for juveniles convicted of aggravated murder, murder, rape, and terrorism offenses.

• Requires parole board to consider youth-related mitigating factors including chronological age, family environment, trauma history, offense circumstances, and rehabilitation during confinement.

• Applies retroactively to all offenders and prisoners regardless of when the offense was committed or sentence imposed, except for certain provisions limited to future cases.