The bill amends the Criminal Sentencing Act to expand the definition of "violent felony" and establishes a "three strikes" rule for violent felons, mandating life imprisonment upon a third conviction. It specifies that defendants with three felony strikes will not be eligible for parole, except for geriatric or medical parole. Additionally, it allows certain convictions incurred by defendants before the age of eighteen to be classified as violent felonies if they were sentenced as adults or if the conviction was from another state where the defendant was also sentenced as an adult. The bill also outlines a comprehensive list of offenses that qualify as violent felonies, including various forms of homicide, aggravated battery, and child abuse.

Furthermore, the bill modifies the existing parole procedures for inmates sentenced to life imprisonment. It stipulates that such inmates will not be eligible for parole unless they meet specific criteria, and it eliminates the possibility of parole for those sentenced under the three strikes rule. The bill also clarifies that the provisions apply to individuals convicted of violent felonies on or after July 1, 2025, and establishes that the effective date for these changes is the same.

Statutes affected:
introduced version: 31-18-23, 31-21-10