Bill > SB140

This bill, originating in the South Dakota Senate as Bill No. 140, aims to eliminate life sentences for individuals who were under eighteen years old at the time they committed a crime. Specifically, it amends existing law, South Dakota Codified Law (SDCL) § 22-6-1, which categorizes felonies into different classes with corresponding maximum penalties. The bill introduces a new provision stating that if a defendant is under eighteen at the time of an offense and is found guilty of a Class A, B, or C felony, the maximum sentence they can receive is a term of years in the state penitentiary, rather than life imprisonment. Additionally, the bill adds a new section to the code explicitly prohibiting the imposition of a life imprisonment penalty for any offense committed by a defendant under the age of eighteen. This change is significant because it alters the sentencing possibilities for juvenile offenders convicted of serious crimes, ensuring they are not subject to life sentences.