This bill amends various sections of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes regarding the sentencing of individuals under the age of 18 convicted of serious crimes, specifically murder, murder of an unborn child, and murder of a law enforcement officer. Key changes include the establishment of specific sentencing guidelines for these offenses, where individuals aged 15 or older convicted of first-degree murder will face life imprisonment without parole or a minimum of 35 years for the murder of a law enforcement officer. Additionally, the bill introduces a new subsection that mandates a minimum sentence of 25 years for those under 15 convicted of the same crime. The bill also modifies the criteria for parole eligibility, ensuring that certain offenders, particularly those convicted of murdering law enforcement officers, will not be granted parole.

Furthermore, the bill establishes the Life with Parole Reinvestment Fund, which will be funded by savings from reduced prison populations due to the paroling of offenders previously sentenced to life without parole. This fund aims to support victim services, offender reentry programs, and the supervision of certain paroled offenders. The bill also revises the criteria for parole eligibility, specifying that offenders must serve a minimum of 25 to 35 years before being considered for parole, depending on the nature of their crime. Overall, the legislation seeks to balance public safety with rehabilitation opportunities for young offenders while providing resources for victims and community reintegration.

Statutes/Laws affected:
Printer's No. 135 (Feb 03, 2025): 18-1102.1(a), 18-1)
Printer's No. 0135: 18-1102.1(a), 18-1)