California
California passed a statute in 2017 that retroactively eliminates life-without-parole sentences for children. The new statute provides that a person sentenced to life without parole for an offense committed before age 18 is eligible for parole at a youth offender parole hearing during his or her 25th year of incarceration…
Colorado
Colorado passed legislation in 2016 that retroactively eliminates life-without-parole sentences for juveniles. In 2006, Colorado had prospectively eliminated such sentences. The 2016 statute provides that juveniles convicted of class 1 felonies shall be sentenced to...Connecticut
S.B. 796, Jan. Sess. (Conn. 2015) (amending Conn. Gen. Stat. §§ 54-125a, 46b-127, 46b-133c, 46b-133d, 53a-46a, 53a-54b, 53a-54d, 53a-54a and enacting new sections).
Delaware
S.B. 9, 147th Gen. Assemb., Reg. Sess. (Del. 2013) (amending Del. Code Ann. tit. 11, §§ 636(b), 4209, 4209A, 4204A).
The District of Columbia
B21-0683, D.C. Act 21-568 (amending, in relevant part, D. C. Code §§ 24-403 et seq.). The District of Columbia eliminated life-without-parole sentences for juveniles with legislation that took effect in 2017. The legislation provides that no person shall be sentenced...Hawaii
H.B. 2116, 27th Leg. Sess. (Haw. 2014) (amending Haw. Rev. Stat. §§ 706-656(1), -657).
Iowa
State v. Sweet (2016)
Massachusetts
H. 4307, 188th Gen. Court (Mass. 2014) (amending Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 27, § 4; ch. 119, § 72B; ch. 127 §§ 133A, 133C; ch. 265, § 2; ch. 279, § 24 and enacting new sections).
Nevada
A.B. 267, 78th Reg. Sess. (Nev. 2015) (amending Nev. Rev. Stat. §§ 176.025, 213.107 and enacting new sections in chs. 213 & 176.
New Jersey
New Jersey eliminated life without parole for juveniles with legislation passed in 2017.
North Dakota
N.D. H.B. 1195, 65th Leg. Assemb. (N.D. 2017) (amending N.D. Cent. Code § 12.1-20-03 and enacting a new section in ch. 12.1-32). North Dakota eliminated life without parole for juveniles in 2017. Under the legislation, defendants convicted as adults for offenses that...Oregon
Or. S.B. 1008, 80th Leg. Assemb. (Reg. Sess. 2019) (enacting new sections). Oregon passed a statute in 2019 eliminating life without parole for juveniles. The statute provides eligibility for parole after 15 years for offenses committed under age 18. The parole...South Dakota
S.B. 140, 2016 S.D. Sess. Laws (S.D. 2016) (amending S.D. Codified Laws § 22-6-1 and enacting a new section).
Texas
S.B. 2, 83rd Leg. Special Sess. (Texas 2013) (enacting Tex. Penal Code Ann. § 12.31, Tex. Code Crim. Proc. Ann. art. 37.071) and S.B. 839, 81st Leg. Sess. (Texas 2009) (enacting Tex. Gov’t Code Ann. § 508.145(b)).
Utah
H.B. 405 (Utah 2016) (amending Laws of Utah §§ 76-3-203.6, -206, -207, -207.5, -207-.7 and enacting § 76-3-209).
Vermont
H. 62, 73rd Sess. (2015) (enacting Vt. Stat. Ann. tit. 13, § 7045)
Washington
In 2018, Washington eliminated life without parole for juveniles through a court decision, Washington v. Bassett. In 2014, Washington had passed legislation that retroactively eliminated life without parole for crimes committed by juveniles ages 15 and younger but...West Virginia
H.B. 4210, 81 Leg., 2d Sess. (W.Va. 2014) (enacting W. Va. Code §§ 61-11-23, 62-12-13b).
Wyoming
H.B. 23, 62nd Leg., Gen. Sess. (Wyo. 2013) (amending Wyo. Stat. Ann. §§ 6-2-101(b), 6-2-306(d), (e), 6-10-201(b)(ii), 6-10-301(c), 7-13-402(a)).