summary
Introduced
03/27/2025
03/27/2025
In Committee
03/27/2025
03/27/2025
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
04/17/2025
04/17/2025
Introduced Session
132nd Legislature
Bill Summary
This bill amends the sentencing provisions under the Maine Criminal Code to provide that, for a person convicted of any crime under that Code on or after January 1, 2026, in sentencing the person, a court may not set a term of imprisonment for life or for any term of years equivalent to imprisonment for life. The bill defines "term of years equivalent to imprisonment for life" to mean a sentence of imprisonment for a term of years that, as determined by the court based on the age of the convicted person at the time of sentencing and other factors determined by the court, is reasonably expected to result in the imprisonment of the person for the remainder of the person's life.
AI Summary
This bill amends Maine's criminal sentencing laws to prohibit life sentences and sentences equivalent to life imprisonment for crimes committed on or after January 1, 2026. Specifically, the bill modifies existing statutes to eliminate life sentences for serious crimes like murder and aggravated attempted murder, requiring courts instead to impose definite prison terms of at least 25 years. The bill introduces a new definition of a "term of years equivalent to imprisonment for life," which is a sentence that, based on the convicted person's age and other factors, would likely result in imprisonment for the remainder of their life. For crimes committed before January 1, 2026, courts may still impose life sentences, but for crimes on or after that date, judges must set a specific, finite prison term. This change applies across various criminal offenses and represents a significant shift in Maine's approach to sentencing, effectively abolishing the possibility of a person spending their entire life in prison for a criminal conviction after the specified date.
Committee Categories
Justice
Sponsors (3)
Last Action
Ought Not to Pass Pursuant To Joint Rule 310, Apr 17, 2025 (on 04/17/2025)
bill text
bill summary
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bill summary
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bill summary
| Document Type | Source Location |
|---|---|
| State Bill Page | https://legislature.maine.gov/legis/bills/display_ps.asp?LD=1335&snum=132 |
| Fiscal Note: Text | https://legislature.maine.gov/legis/bills/bills_132nd/fiscalpdfs/FN133501.pdf |
| BillText | https://legislature.maine.gov/legis/bills/getPDF.asp?paper=HP0870&item=1&snum=132 |
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