Bill > HB103

This bill prohibits sentencing individuals under the age of twenty-one to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole, based on neuroscience research suggesting that brain maturation continues through an individual's mid-twenties. The legislation modifies several sections of Hawaii's Revised Statutes, changing the age threshold for severe sentencing from eighteen to twenty-one years old. Specifically, for first-degree murder or first-degree attempted murder, persons under twenty-one will now be sentenced to life imprisonment with the possibility of parole, instead of life without parole. The bill also adjusts related provisions for extended terms of imprisonment, such as criteria for persistent offenders, which now applies to individuals twenty-one years and older. The legislative findings highlight a Massachusetts court decision that recognized individuals between eighteen and twenty as "emerging adults" and acknowledged the ongoing brain development during this period. By implementing these changes, the bill aims to provide more nuanced sentencing options that take into account the developmental stage of younger offenders, potentially allowing for rehabilitation and future parole opportunities.

Justice

https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=HB&billnumber=103&year=2025