MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2016 Regular Session
To: Judiciary B
By: Representative Banks
AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 97-3-21, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REDUCE THE PENALTY FOR PERSONS CONVICTED OF FIRST DEGREE MURDER; 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) Every person
who shall be convicted of first-degree * * *
or 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.
( * * *2) Every person who shall be convicted
of capital murder shall be sentenced (a) to death; (b) to imprisonment for life
in the State Penitentiary without parole; or (c) to imprisonment for life in
the State Penitentiary with eligibility for parole as provided in Section 47-7-3(1)(f).
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2016.