Juvenile offenders; punishment for conviction of certain felonies. (SB809)
Introduced By
Progress
✓ |
Introduced |
✗ |
Passed Committee |
☐ |
Passed House |
✓ |
Passed Senate |
☐ |
Signed by Governor |
☐ |
Became Law |
Description
Juvenile offenders; sentence modification. Requires a sentencing hearing for persons convicted of a crime committed when a juvenile for which the only available punishment is a life sentence and provides that the punishment is a Class 2 felony (20 years to life). This bill is in response to Miller v. Alabama (567 U.S.___, 2012) where the United States Supreme Court held that the Eighth Amendment prohibits a sentencing scheme that requires life in prison without the possibility of parole for juvenile homicide offenders. Read the Bill »
Outcome
Bill Has Failed
History
| Date | Action |
|---|---|
| 12/20/2012 | Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/09/13 13100737D |
| 12/20/2012 | Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice |
| 01/30/2013 | Reported from Courts of Justice with substitute (12-Y 3-N) (see vote tally) |
| 01/30/2013 | Committee substitute printed 13104571D-S1 |
| 02/01/2013 | Constitutional reading dispensed (39-Y 0-N) (see vote tally) |
| 02/04/2013 | Read second time |
| 02/04/2013 | Reading of substitute waived |
| 02/04/2013 | Committee substitute agreed to 13104571D-S1 |
| 02/04/2013 | Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute SB809S1 |
| 02/04/2013 | Constitutional reading dispensed (40-Y 0-N) (see vote tally) |
| 02/04/2013 | Passed Senate (32-Y 8-N) (see vote tally) |
| 02/06/2013 | Placed on Calendar |
| 02/06/2013 | Read first time |
| 02/06/2013 | Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice |
| 02/12/2013 | Assigned Courts sub: #1 Criminal |
| 02/13/2013 | Subcommittee failed to recommend reporting (3-Y 5-N) |
| 02/18/2013 | Left in Courts of Justice |
Comments
The ACLU of Virginia supports legislation that permits individuals that were convicted of crimes while they were juveniles and harshly sentenced to have meaningful opportunities for modification of their sentences. Juvenile offenders must be held accountable for their crimes, but in a way that takes contemplates their incomplete brain development at the time the crimes were committed and takes advantage of their unique potential for rehabilitation and reentry.