Bill > H4307

This bill modifies laws related to juvenile sentencing for first-degree murder by ensuring that one member of a specific board has experience in forensic psychology, and by prohibiting the Department of Correction from denying programming and treatment to youthful offenders, defined as individuals between 14 and 18 years old, solely based on their crimes or sentence length, allowing for placement in minimum security facilities even with a life sentence if objective measures are met. It also clarifies that life sentences for first-degree murder apply only to those 18 or older at the time of the offense, while for those aged 14 to 17, the court must set a minimum term of 20 to 30 years, with specific longer minimums for murders with extreme atrocity or cruelty, or deliberate premeditation. Furthermore, the bill establishes a commission to study and develop a developmental evaluation process for juvenile offenders convicted of first-degree murder, to be used for sentencing and parole decisions, with the commission to report its findings and legislative proposals by December 31, 2014. The provisions regarding minimum terms for juvenile offenders and the developmental evaluation process apply to offenses committed after the bill's effective date, while the changes to programming and treatment access apply regardless of when the crime occurred.