Present law prohibits release eligibility for a person committing first degree murder, on or after July 1, 1995, and receiving a sentence of imprisonment for life. The person must serve 100% of 60 years less sentence credits earned and retained. However, sentence reduction credits authorized by law may:  For offenses committed before July 1, 2024, reduce the sentence imposed by the court by up to 15%.  For offenses committed on or after July 1, 2024, reduce by up to 15% the percentage of the sentence imposed by the court that the person must serve before becoming eligible for release on parole but must not alter the sentence expiration date. This bill revises the provisions above to, instead, prohibit release eligibility for a defendant committing the offense of first degree murder on or after July 1, 1995, who receives a sentence of imprisonment for life occurs after service of 60% of 60 years less sentence credits earned and retained by the defendant. However, a defendant who is sentenced to imprisonment for life is not eligible for parole until the defendant has served a minimum of the following:  If the defendant was 25 or younger at the time of the offense, 25 full calendar years of the sentence.  If the defendant was 26 or older at the time of the offense, 30 full calendar years of the sentence.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 40-35-501(h)(2), 40-35-501