juveniles; sentence reduction; hearing

SB 1732 allows courts to automatically reduce prison sentences for individuals convicted of serious crimes as juveniles (under 18) who have served at least 15 years. The bill requires a court hearing within 90 days of a motion, where the defendant must be presumed eligible for sentence reduction unless the court finds they pose a public safety threat based on specific factors. These factors include the defendant’s age at the crime, rehabilitation efforts (like education programs), history of trauma, and maturity, but the court cannot sentence them to natural life or indefinite imprisonment. The law directly affects juvenile offenders serving long sentences who meet the eligibility criteria, aiming to provide a structured review process for potential sentence reductions.