Bill > H1439

This bill aims to reform juvenile offender law in several key ways: 1. It raises the age of juvenile court jurisdiction from 18 to 19 years old. 2. It establishes that juveniles convicted of first or second-degree murder committed between the ages of 16 and 19 must be given a "meaningful opportunity" for parole based on demonstrated maturity and rehabilitation, rather than automatic life sentences. 3. It requires the superior court to transfer cases of 14- to 16-year-olds accused of murder to the juvenile court. 4. It creates detailed procedures for determining a juvenile's competency to stand trial, including a presumption of incompetency for those under 13 and requirements for periodic review and dismissal of charges if competency cannot be restored. 5. It amends parole laws to require the parole board to give substantial weight to a juvenile offender's diminished culpability and demonstrated rehabilitation when considering parole for those convicted of murder under age 19.

Justice

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/191/H1439