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House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
House of Representatives
Session of 2013 - 2014
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | February 21, 2013 12:32 PM |
|---|---|
| From: | Representative Robert F. Matzie |
| To: | All House members |
| Subject: | Co-sponsorship of Legislation – Sentence Reduction for Juvenile Offenders |
| In the near future, I plan to introduce legislation that would enable minor offenders to be considered for a reduction in sentence provided certain criteria are met. Under my legislation, any juvenile offender who was under the age of 18 at the time the crime was committed and who has been sentenced to life in prison without parole, or a minimum term of imprisonment of at least ten years, and who has served at least three years of the sentence, could petition the sentencing court for a reduction in sentence. The sentencing court would be required to consider several factors including the individual’s age and level of maturity during the time of the offense, the individual’s degree of participation in the offense, the nature and severity of the offense, the individual’s prior juvenile or criminal history, and the likelihood of the individual to commit further offenses. Additionally, the sentencing court would have the discretion to consider other information deemed relevant. I believe it is important to give individuals, who were juveniles at the time a crime was committed, a second chance at becoming productive human beings in their communities. Please join me in supporting this important legislation. |
Introduced as HB1005