Title: Authorizes Parole Hearings for Juveniles Serving Life Terms
Vote Smart's Synopsis:
Vote to pass a bill that authorizes parole eligibility for juveniles sentenced to life imprisonment.
Highlights:
Authorizes an individual who received a sentence of life imprisonment for a conviction of first or second degree murder as a juvenile to be eligible for parole if certain conditions are met, including, but not limited to, the following conditions (Sec. 1):
The individual has served 35 years of the sentence;
The individual has obtained a low-risk level designation;
The individual has not committed any major disciplinary offenses in the year prior to the parole hearing date; and
The individual has obtained a GED certification or has completed a literacy program, adult basic education program, or job skills training program.
Specifies that the individual must have been under the age of 18 at the time of the offense and must have been convicted prior to June 25, 2012 (Sec. 1).
Requires an individual with expertise in adolescent brain development to provide an evaluation of the offender to the parole review panel (Sec. 1).