Bill > HR2858

This bill, known as Sara's Law and the Preventing Unfair Sentencing Act of 2021, aims to address sentencing for youthful victim offenders and juvenile offenders. The key provisions are: 1. For youthful victim offenders (individuals under 18 who were victims of trafficking, abuse, or assault), the court can impose a sentence below the statutory minimum to consider the effects of trauma on their conduct. The court can also suspend any portion of the sentence. 2. For juvenile offenders (as defined in Section 5031), the court can impose a sentence up to 35% below the statutory minimum to reflect the juvenile's age and prospects for rehabilitation. 3. The bill creates a new section (5032A) that allows courts to reduce the sentence of defendants convicted as adults for offenses committed before age 18, if they have served at least 20 years and the court finds they are not a danger and a sentence reduction is in the interests of justice. The bill directs the U.S. Sentencing Commission to review and amend its guidelines and policy statements to align with these changes, and applies to convictions entered on or after the date of enactment.

Justice, Military Affairs and Security

https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/2858/all-info