The bill, known as Jolee's Law, amends Section 15-19-1 of the Code of Alabama 1975 to prohibit judges from granting youthful offender status to individuals aged 16 years or older who are charged with capital murder or murder. The new legal language specifies that such individuals must be charged, arrested, and tried as adults, thereby eliminating the possibility of being treated as youthful offenders in these serious cases. This change is reflected in the insertion of language that states, "An individual who has attained the age 16 years of age or older at the time of the offense and who is charged with capital murder... may not be tried as a youthful offender."

Additionally, the bill modifies existing provisions regarding youthful offender status for individuals charged with crimes involving moral turpitude or those subject to a sentence of one year or more. The amendments include changes to the language used to describe individuals (from "A person" to "an individual") and clarify the court's responsibilities in determining youthful offender status. The bill also emphasizes the importance of notifying victims prior to hearings related to serious crimes, ensuring that their rights are considered in the judicial process. The act is set to take effect on October 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 15-19-1
Engrossed: 15-19-1