Bill > SB187

This bill modifies New Mexico's capital felony sentencing law by expanding the circumstances under which the death penalty can be applied specifically in cases involving the murder of peace officers. Currently, a defendant can receive life imprisonment without parole if aggravating circumstances are found, but the bill adds two new specific scenarios related to peace officer murders that could now potentially result in the death penalty. These scenarios include: (1) murdering a peace officer who is acting in the lawful discharge of official duty, and (2) murdering a peace officer who is not on duty but was specifically targeted because of their status as a law enforcement officer. The bill amends existing statutes (Sections 31-20A-2 and 31-20A-5) to add these new aggravating circumstances to the list of factors that can be considered during sentencing in capital felony cases. The modifications also include some gender-neutral language updates, such as replacing "he" with "the peace officer" and making minor technical corrections to spelling (e.g., changing "kidnaping" to "kidnapping").

Justice

https://www.nmlegis.gov/Legislation/Legislation?chamber=S&legtype=B&legno=187&year=25