Bill > S4351

This bill prohibits courts from sentencing individuals under 21 years of age to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole for certain serious crimes, such as murder, kidnapping, aggravated sexual assault, robbery, and other violent offenses. The legislation modifies existing New Jersey law by adding a specific provision that prevents courts from imposing a life sentence without parole for young offenders who were under 21 at the time of their crime. This bill is part of a broader legal trend responding to recent court decisions, including a Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court ruling that found life sentences without parole for individuals aged 18 to 20 to be unconstitutional as a form of cruel punishment. The bill maintains the ability to sentence young offenders to significant prison terms but ensures they have the potential for parole, recognizing that individuals under 21 may have diminished culpability due to ongoing brain development and potential for rehabilitation. The legislation applies to specific serious crimes and includes provisions for extended sentencing for repeat violent offenders, while also maintaining an exception for elderly prisoners who have served at least 35 years and are deemed not to be a danger to society.

Justice

https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/bill-search/2024/S4351