Youth Sentencing Act of 2021

A BILL TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, TO ENACT THE "YOUTH SENTENCING ACT OF 2021" BY ADDING SECTIONS 16-3-15, 17-25-35, AND 17-25-40 SO AS TO PROHIBIT THE PENALTY OF LIFE IMPRISONMENT FOR ANY INDIVIDUAL WHO IS UNDER THE AGE OF EIGHTEEN AT THE TIME OF COMMITTING AN OFFENSE AND TO PROVIDE MAXIMUM SENTENCES FOR THOSE INDIVIDUALS WHO COMMITTED AN OFFENSE AS A MINOR BEFORE THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THE ACT; BY ADDING SECTION 63-19-1690 SO AS TO PROHIBIT THE USE OF RESTRAINTS, ISOLATION, AND ROOM CONFINEMENT FOR JUVENILE OFFENDERS, WITH EXCEPTIONS; TO AMEND SECTION 16-11-311, RELATING TO THE OFFENSE OF BURGLARY IN THE FIRST DEGREE, SO AS TO MAKE CONFORMING CHANGES; TO AMEND SECTION 17-25-20, RELATING TO CRIMINAL PUNISHMENTS, SO AS TO PROHIBIT THE USE OF SOLITARY CONFINEMENT FOR A PERSON WHO IS YOUNGER THAN EIGHTEEN YEARS OF AGE; TO AMEND SECTION 17-25-45, RELATING TO LIFE SENTENCES FOR PERSONS CONVICTED OF CERTAIN CRIMES, SO AS TO ADD A RIGHT TO COUNSEL FOR A JUVENILE OFFENDER AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES; AND TO AMEND SECTION 24-13-100, RELATING TO NO PAROLE OFFENSES, SO AS TO MAKE CONFORMING CHANGES.