Bill > S00541

This bill modifies New York state law to allow for life imprisonment without parole for persistent violent felony offenders who have been previously convicted of two or more violent felony offenses. Specifically, the bill amends the penal law to enable courts to impose a life imprisonment without parole sentence when a defendant is convicted of a violent felony offense and has two or more prior violent felony convictions. The bill removes previous provisions that specified minimum imprisonment periods for persistent violent felony offenders and replaces them with a mandatory life imprisonment without parole sentence. Key terms in the bill include "violent felony offense" (as defined in section 70.02 of the penal law) and "predicate violent felony convictions" (as defined in section 70.04). The legislation aims to strengthen sentencing guidelines for repeat violent offenders by eliminating the possibility of parole for individuals with a history of multiple violent felony convictions. The bill will take effect 90 days after becoming law, providing a clear and more stringent approach to sentencing repeat violent criminals in New York state.

Housing and Urban Affairs

https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S541