Juveniles; sentencing when tried as an adult. (HB745)

Introduced By

Del. Vivian Watts (D-Annandale)

Progress

Introduced
Passed Committee
Passed House
Passed Senate
Signed by Governor
Became Law

Description

Sentencing of juvenile tried as adult. Provides that a court, in the case of a juvenile tried as an adult and convicted of a felony, may depart from any mandatory minimum sentence required by law, suspend any portion of an otherwise applicable sentence, or deal with the juvenile in the same manner as a case in the juvenile court if the court finds by clear and convincing evidence that the victim of the felony offense trafficked the juvenile in violation of human trafficking laws or sexually assaulted or abused the juvenile within one year of the commission of the felony offense. The bill also requires the court, when sentencing a juvenile as an adult, to consider the juvenile's exposure to adverse childhood experiences, early childhood trauma, or any child welfare agency and the differences between juvenile and adult offenders, including the diminished culpability of juveniles. After considering such factors, the court may reduce or suspend any mandatory minimum sentence or maximum period of incarceration prescribed by law that the juvenile is required to serve by not more than 50 percent if the court determines that such reduction is appropriate in relation to the juvenile's age, the juvenile's prospects for rehabilitation, or any other mitigating factors. Read the Bill »

Status

01/06/2020: Awaiting a Vote in the Courts of Justice Committee

History

DateAction
01/06/2020Committee
01/06/2020Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/08/20 20102311D
01/06/2020Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice
01/10/2020Stricken from House calendar