MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2021 Regular Session
To: Judiciary, Division B
By: Senator(s) Turner-Ford
AN ACT TO AMEND SECTIONS 97-3-21, 99-19-101 AND 47-7-3, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO PROVIDE ALTERNATIVE SENTENCING AND PAROLE OPTIONS FOR JUVENILE OFFENDERS IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE UNITED STATES SUPREME COURT HOLDING IN THE CASE OF MILLER V. ALABAMA; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:
SECTION 1. Section 97-3-21, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
97-3-21. (1) Except as
otherwise provided for a juvenile offender in subsection (2) of this section,
every person who * * * is:
(a) Convicted of first-degree murder shall be sentenced by the court to imprisonment for life in the custody of the Department of Corrections.
( * * *b) * * * Convicted of second-degree
murder shall be imprisoned for life in the custody of the Department of
Corrections if the punishment is so fixed by the jury in its verdict after a
separate sentencing proceeding. If the jury fails to agree on fixing the
penalty at imprisonment for life, the court shall fix the penalty at not less
than twenty (20) nor more than forty (40) years in the custody of the
Department of Corrections.
( * * *c) * * * Convicted of
capital murder shall be sentenced ( * * *i) to death; ( * * *ii) to imprisonment for life in the
State Penitentiary without parole; or ( * * *iii) to imprisonment for life in the
State Penitentiary with eligibility for parole as provided in Section 47-7-3(1)( * * *e).
(2) (a) For the purposes of this section, "juvenile offender" means a person who had not reached the age of eighteen (18) years at the time of the commission of the offense.
(b) A juvenile offender who is convicted of first- or second-degree murder or capital murder may be sentenced to life imprisonment or life imprisonment without eligibility for parole in the custody of the Department of Corrections if the punishment is so fixed by the judge after a separate sentencing proceeding held without a jury as provided in Section 99-19-101.
(c) If the court, sitting without a jury, finds the imposition of a sentence to life imprisonment or life imprisonment without eligibility for parole to be unjustified, the court shall fix the penalty as follows:
(i) For first-degree murder, at not less than ten (10) nor more than forty (40) years in the custody of the Department of Corrections.
(ii) For second-degree murder, at not less than ten (10) nor more than thirty (30) years in the custody of the Department of Corrections.
(iii) For capital murder, at not less than twenty (20) nor more than fifty (50) years in the custody of the Department of Corrections.
(d) The provisions of this subsection (2) apply retroactively to all arrests and convictions irrespective of the dates on which the offense was committed, an arrest was made, or a judgment of conviction was entered.
SECTION 2. Section 99-19-101, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
99-19-101. (1) Upon conviction or adjudication of guilt of a defendant of capital murder or other capital offense, the court shall conduct a separate sentencing proceeding to determine whether the defendant should be sentenced to death, life imprisonment without eligibility for parole, or life imprisonment; a sentence of death cannot be imposed if the defendant was not at least eighteen (18) years of age at the time of the commission of the offense. If the defendant was under eighteen (18) years of age at the time of the commission of the offense, subsection (9) of this section applies; otherwise the proceeding shall be conducted by the trial judge before the trial jury as soon as practicable. If, through impossibility or inability, the trial jury is unable to reconvene for a hearing on the issue of penalty, having determined the guilt of the accused, the trial judge may summon a jury to determine the issue of the imposition of the penalty. If the trial jury has been waived, or if the defendant pleaded guilty, the sentencing proceeding shall be conducted before a jury impaneled for that purpose or may be conducted before the trial judge sitting without a jury if both the State of Mississippi and the defendant agree thereto in writing. In the proceeding, evidence may be presented as to any matter that the court deems relevant to sentence, and shall include matters relating to any of the aggravating or mitigating circumstances. However, this subsection shall not be construed to authorize the introduction of any evidence secured in violation of the Constitution of the United States or of the State of Mississippi. The state and the defendant and the defendant's counsel shall be permitted to present arguments for or against the sentence of death.
(2) After hearing all the evidence, the jury, or the judge sitting without a jury, shall deliberate on the following matters:
(a) Whether sufficient factors exist as enumerated in subsection (7) of this section;
(b) Whether sufficient aggravating circumstances exist as enumerated in subsection (5) of this section;
(c) Whether sufficient mitigating circumstances exist as enumerated in subsection (6) of this section, which outweigh the aggravating circumstances found to exist; and
(d) Based on these considerations, whether the defendant should be sentenced to life imprisonment, life imprisonment without eligibility for parole, or death.
(3) For the jury to impose a sentence of death, it must unanimously find in writing the following:
(a) That sufficient factors exist as enumerated in subsection (7) of this section;
(b) That sufficient
aggravating circumstances exist as enumerated in subsection (5) of this
section; * * *
(c) That there are
insufficient mitigating circumstances, as enumerated in subsection (6), to
outweigh the aggravating circumstances * * *; and
(d) That the defendant was eighteen (18) years of age or older at the time of the commission of the offense.
In each case in which the jury imposes the death sentence, the determination of the jury shall be supported by specific written findings of fact based upon the circumstances in subsections (5) and (6) of this section and upon the records of the trial and the sentencing proceedings. If, after the trial of the penalty phase, the jury does not make the findings requiring the death sentence or life imprisonment without eligibility for parole, or is unable to reach a decision, the court shall impose a sentence of life imprisonment.
(4) The judgment of conviction and sentence of death shall be subject to automatic review by the Supreme Court of Mississippi within sixty (60) days after certification by the sentencing court of the entire record, unless the time is extended for an additional period by the Supreme Court for good cause shown. The review by the Supreme Court shall have priority over all other cases and shall be heard in accordance with rules promulgated by the Supreme Court.
(5) Aggravating circumstances shall be limited to the following:
(a) The capital offense was committed by a person under sentence of imprisonment.
(b) The defendant was previously convicted of another capital offense or of a felony involving the use or threat of violence to the person.
(c) The defendant knowingly created a great risk of death to many persons.
(d) The capital offense was committed while the defendant was engaged, or was an accomplice, in the commission of, or an attempt to commit, or flight after committing or attempting to commit, any robbery, rape, arson, burglary, kidnapping, aircraft piracy, sexual battery, unnatural intercourse with any child under the age of twelve (12), or nonconsensual unnatural intercourse with mankind, or felonious abuse or battery of a child in violation of subsection (2) of Section 97-5-39, or the unlawful use or detonation of a bomb or explosive device.
(e) The capital offense was committed for the purpose of avoiding or preventing a lawful arrest or effecting an escape from custody.
(f) The capital offense was committed for pecuniary gain.
(g) The capital offense was committed to disrupt or hinder the lawful exercise of any governmental function or the enforcement of laws.
(h) The capital offense was committed to influence the policy of a governmental entity by intimidation or coercion, or to affect the conduct of a governmental entity by mass destruction or assassination.
(i) The capital offense was especially heinous, atrocious or cruel.
(j) The capital offense was committed to intimidate or coerce a civilian population.
(6) Mitigating circumstances shall be the following:
(a) The defendant has no significant history of prior criminal activity.
(b) The offense was committed while the defendant was under the influence of extreme mental or emotional disturbance.
(c) The victim was a participant in the defendant's conduct or consented to the act.
(d) The defendant was an accomplice in the capital offense committed by another person and his participation was relatively minor.
(e) The defendant acted under extreme duress or under the substantial domination of another person.
(f) The capacity of the defendant to appreciate the criminality of his conduct or to conform his conduct to the requirements of law was substantially impaired.
(g) The age of the defendant at the time of the crime.
(7) In order to return and impose a sentence of death the jury must make a written finding of one or more of the following:
(a) The defendant actually killed;
(b) The defendant attempted to kill;
(c) The defendant intended that a killing take place;
(d) The defendant contemplated that lethal force would be employed.
(8) For the purposes of this section, to "intimidate" or "coerce" do not include peaceful picketing, boycotts or other nonviolent action.
(9) If the defendant was under the age of eighteen (18) at the time of the commission of the offense, the court sitting without a jury must conduct a separate sentencing proceeding to determine whether the defendant should be sentenced to life imprisonment, life imprisonment without eligibility for parole, or imprisonment for a term of years. The court in its deliberations in deciding ineligibility for parole must consider not only the aggravating and mitigating circumstances set forth in this section, but also must take into consideration the defendant's youth, the nature of the crime for which convicted, the defendant's capacity or potential for change, and whether the defendant is incorrigible.
SECTION 3. Section 47-7-3, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
47-7-3. (1) Every prisoner who has been convicted of any offense against the State of Mississippi, and is confined in the execution of a judgment of such conviction in the Mississippi Department of Corrections for a definite term or terms of one (1) year or over, or for the term of his or her natural life, whose record of conduct shows that such prisoner has observed the rules of the department, and who has served not less than one-fourth (1/4) of the total of such term or terms for which such prisoner was sentenced, or, if sentenced to serve a term or terms of thirty (30) years or more, or, if sentenced for the term of the natural life of such prisoner, has served not less than ten (10) years of such life sentence, may be released on parole as hereinafter provided, except that:
(a) No prisoner convicted as a confirmed and habitual criminal under the provisions of Sections 99-19-81 through 99-19-87 shall be eligible for parole;
(b) Any person who shall have been convicted of a sex crime shall not be released on parole except for a person under the age of nineteen (19) who has been convicted under Section 97-3-67;
(c) (i) No person shall be eligible for parole who shall, on or after January 1, 1977, be convicted of robbery or attempted robbery through the display of a firearm until he shall have served ten (10) years if sentenced to a term or terms of more than ten (10) years or if sentenced for the term of the natural life of such person. If such person is sentenced to a term or terms of ten (10) years or less, then such person shall not be eligible for parole. The provisions of this paragraph (c)(i) shall also apply to any person who shall commit robbery or attempted robbery on or after July 1, 1982, through the display of a deadly weapon. This paragraph (c)(i) shall not apply to persons convicted after September 30, 1994;
(ii) No person shall be eligible for parole who shall, on or after October 1, 1994, be convicted of robbery, attempted robbery or carjacking as provided in Section 97-3-115 et seq., through the display of a firearm or drive-by shooting as provided in Section 97-3-109. The provisions of this paragraph (c)(ii) shall also apply to any person who shall commit robbery, attempted robbery, carjacking or a drive-by shooting on or after October 1, 1994, through the display of a deadly weapon. This paragraph (c)(ii) shall not apply to persons convicted after July 1, 2014;
(d) No person shall be eligible for parole who, on or after July 1, 1994, is charged, tried, convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment without eligibility for parole under the provisions of Section 99-19-101;
(e) No person shall be eligible for parole who is charged, tried, convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment under the provisions of Section 99-19-101;
(f) No person shall be
eligible for parole who is convicted or whose suspended sentence is revoked
after June 30, 1995, except that an offender convicted of only nonviolent
crimes after June 30, 1995, may be eligible for parole if the offender meets
the requirements in this subsection (1) and this paragraph (f). In
addition to other requirements, if an offender is convicted of a drug or
driving under the influence felony, the offender must complete a drug and
alcohol rehabilitation program prior to parole or the offender may be required
to complete a post-release drug and alcohol program as a condition of parole.
For purposes of this paragraph, "nonviolent crime" means a felony
other than homicide, robbery, manslaughter, sex crimes, arson, burglary of an
occupied dwelling, aggravated assault, kidnapping, felonious abuse of
vulnerable * * *
persons, felonies with enhanced penalties, except enhanced penalties for
the crime of possession of a controlled substance under Section 41-29-147, the
sale or manufacture of a controlled substance under the Uniform Controlled
Substances Law, felony child abuse * * * exploitation, or any crime under
Section 97-5-33 or Section 97-5-39(2) or 97-5-39(1)(b), 97-5-39(1)(c) or a
violation of Section 63-11-30(5). In addition, an offender incarcerated for committing
the crime of possession of a controlled substance under the Uniform Controlled
Substances Law after July 1, 1995, including an offender who receives an
enhanced penalty under the provisions of Section 41-29-147 for such possession,
shall be eligible for parole. An offender incarcerated for committing the
crime of sale or manufacture of a controlled substance shall be eligible for
parole after serving one-fourth (1/4) of the sentence imposed by the trial
court. This paragraph (f) shall not apply to persons convicted on or after
July 1, 2014;
(g) (i) No person
who, on or after July 1, 2014, is convicted of a crime of violence * * * as defined in Section 97-3-2,
a sex crime or an offense that specifically prohibits parole release shall be eligible
for parole. All persons convicted of any other offense on or after July 1,
2014, are eligible for parole after they have served one-fourth (1/4) of the
sentence or sentences imposed by the trial court.
(ii) Notwithstanding the provisions in subparagraph (i) of this paragraph (g), a person serving a sentence who has reached the age of sixty (60) or older and who has served no less than ten (10) years of the sentence or sentences imposed by the trial court shall be eligible for parole. Any person eligible for parole under this subsection shall be required to have a parole hearing before the Parole Board prior to parole release. No inmate shall be eligible for parole under this subparagraph (ii) of this paragraph (g) if:
1. The inmate is sentenced as a habitual offender under Sections 99-19-81 through 99-19-87;
2. The inmate
is sentenced for a crime of violence * * * as defined in Section 97-3-2;
3. The inmate is sentenced for an offense that specifically prohibits parole release;
4. The inmate is sentenced for trafficking in controlled substances under Section 41-29-139(f);
5. The inmate is sentenced for a sex crime; or
6. The inmate has not served one-fourth (1/4) of the sentence imposed by the court.
(iii) Notwithstanding
the provisions of paragraph (a) of this subsection, any offender who has not
committed a crime of violence * * * as defined in Section 97-3-2 and who
has served twenty-five percent (25%) or more of his sentence may be paroled by
the Parole Board if * * * the sentencing judge or, if the sentencing judge is
retired, disabled or incapacitated, the senior circuit judge authorizes the offender
to be eligible for parole consideration; or if that senior circuit judge must
be recused, another circuit judge of the same district or a senior status judge
may hear and decide the matter;
(h) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, an inmate who has not been convicted as a habitual offender under Sections 99-19-81 through 99-19-87, has not been convicted of committing a crime of violence, as defined under Section 97-3-2, has not been convicted of a sex crime or any other crime that specifically prohibits parole release, and has not been convicted of drug trafficking under Section 41-29-139 is eligible for parole if the inmate has served twenty-five percent (25%) or more of his or her sentence, but is otherwise ineligible for parole.
(2) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, an inmate shall not be eligible to receive earned time, good time or any other administrative reduction of time which shall reduce the time necessary to be served for parole eligibility as provided in subsection (1) of this section.
(3) The State Parole Board shall, by rules and regulations, establish a method of determining a tentative parole hearing date for each eligible offender taken into the custody of the Department of Corrections. The tentative parole hearing date shall be determined within ninety (90) days after the department has assumed custody of the offender. The parole hearing date shall occur when the offender is within thirty (30) days of the month of his parole eligibility date. The parole eligibility date shall not be earlier than one-fourth (1/4) of the prison sentence or sentences imposed by the court.
(4) Any inmate within twenty-four (24) months of his parole eligibility date and who meets the criteria established by the classification board shall receive priority for placement in any educational development and job training programs that are part of his or her parole case plan. Any inmate refusing to participate in an educational development or job training program that is part of the case plan may be in jeopardy of noncompliance with the case plan and may be denied parole.
(5) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a person who was under the age of eighteen (18) at the time of the commission of an offense for which a sentence of life in prison or life in prison without parole was imposed may be considered for parole after having served at least twenty (20) years of the sentence or sentences imposed by the trial court. This subsection (5) shall apply retroactively to all such convictions without regard to the date on which the judgment of conviction was entered.
SECTION 4. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage.