The House Courts and Criminal Code Committee heard SB 385, sponsored by Rep. McMillin and Rep. Truitt, on murder sentencing; aggravating circumstance. This bill permits the state to seek the death penalty or a sentence of life without parole for a murder committed in a building primarily used for educational purposes if the murder is committed on school property or in a building … [Read more...] about Murder sentencing; aggravating circumstance
sentencing
Crimes of violence
The House Courts and Criminal Code Committee heard SB 559, sponsored by Rep. Frizzell, on crimes of violence. This bill adds unlawful possession of a firearm by a serious violent felon to the definition of "crimes of violence". It also establishes new caps for consecutive sentences that result from a single episode of criminal conduct. This legislation defines "emergency medical … [Read more...] about Crimes of violence
Criminal justice funding
The Senate Appropriations Committee heard HB 1006, sponsored by Sen. Steele and Sen. Young, on criminal justice funding. This bill was amended to provide: the DOC to compile certain information and submit a quarterly report to the state budget committee and a monthly report to the Justice Reinvestment Advisory Council; provides that counties or courts wishing to apply to the DOC … [Read more...] about Criminal justice funding
Various criminal law issues
The Senate Appropriations Committee heard HB 1304 on various criminal law issues sponsored Sen. Steele and Sen. R. Michael Young. The committee adopted three amendments. Two of the amendments made language changes and technical corrections. The third amendment, introduced by Sen. Kenley, excludes certain offenders from treatment in lieu of prosecution or incarceration and removes … [Read more...] about Various criminal law issues
Sentence modification
The House Courts and Criminal Code Committee heard SB 174, Sen. R. Michael Young’s bill on sentence modification sponsored by Rep. Frizzell. Sen. Young presented an amendment to the bill which the Committee adopted by consent. As amended, the bill would (1) allow persons sentenced for nonviolent crimes committed before July 1, 2014 to petition for sentence modifications without any … [Read more...] about Sentence modification