Criminal Justice (Sentencing)

SB 1160 would repeal existing state laws governing the death penalty. This bill directly affects the state's criminal justice system by removing the legal framework for capital punishment. The bill's key provision is the removal of all statutory provisions related to the death penalty, effectively ending its use as a sentencing option. It is currently in the Senate Judiciary Committee for review.

This bill prohibits life without parole sentences for individuals under 20 at the time of their offense, except in cases involving multiple victims, extreme cruelty, or evidence of adult-level planning. It requires courts to consider youth-related factors like rehabilitation potential and maturity when sentencing, and sets a 25-year maximum confinement period for non-exceptional cases. Current inmates under 20 serving life without parole must receive parole reviews within two years of August 28, 2026. Victims and families gain the right to participate in parole hearings and submit input during these proceedings.

HB 2521 abolishes the death penalty for murder in the first degree in Missouri, replacing it with a mandatory life imprisonment sentence without parole. The bill specifically requires courts to sentence individuals convicted of murder in the first degree to life in prison without eligibility for parole, probation, or release except by the governor's action. It applies to all new convictions and requires existing death sentences to be automatically converted to life imprisonment without parole. The legislation repeals all Missouri statutes allowing the death penalty for this offense and updates sentencing classifications accordingly. This change directly affects all individuals convicted of murder in the first degree under Missouri law.

HB 1896 allows individuals currently incarcerated for marijuana-related offenses to seek immediate release by petitioning their sentencing court. It specifically applies to people serving time *only* for marijuana offenses, requiring the Department of Corrections to release them without delay upon a court order. The bill amends Missouri law to override standard sentencing rules for these cases, enabling courts to vacate sentences and end incarceration. This creates a direct pathway for eligible individuals to be freed from custody and supervision under the department's control.

HB 2153 abolishes the death penalty in Missouri by repealing all statutes that permitted capital punishment. It mandates that anyone convicted of a crime previously punishable by death must instead receive life imprisonment without parole. This change directly affects all current death row inmates and future defendants facing capital charges for offenses like murder. The bill removes the death penalty as a sentencing option, replacing it with life without parole for those specific crimes.