DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part of
the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute part of
the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
Hazel HB No. 152
Abstract: Provides for parole consideration for juveniles sentenced to life imprisonment for
certain homicide offenses after a judicial determination of eligibility for such
consideration and when certain conditions are met.
Present law provides that any offender who commits first degree murder or second degree
murder who is under the age of 18 at the time of the commission of the offense shall be punished
by life imprisonment at hard labor without benefit of parole, probation, or suspension of
sentence.
In the case Miller v. Alabama, 132 S.Ct. 2455 (2012), the U.S. Supreme Court held that
mandatory life imprisonment without parole for any offender under the age of 18 violates the 8th
Amendment's prohibition on cruel and unusual punishment. Although the court did not prohibit
a life sentence for juveniles convicted of homicide offenses, the court did require the sentencing
court to consider the offender's youth and attendant characteristics as mitigating circumstances.
Proposed law retains present law but provides that any person serving a sentence of life
imprisonment for a conviction of first degree murder or second degree murder who was under the
age of 18 at the time of the commission of the offense shall be eligible for parole consideration if
a judicial determination has been made that the person is entitled to parole eligibility and all of
the following conditions have been met:
(1)The offender has served 35 years of the sentence imposed.
(2)The offender has not committed any disciplinary offenses in the 12 consecutive months
prior to the parole eligibility date.
(3)The offender has completed a minimum of 100 hours of prerelease programming.
(4)The offender has completed substance abuse treatment as applicable.
(5)The offender has obtained a GED or, in certain circumstances, has completed a literacy
program, an adult basic education program, or a job skills training program.
(6)The offender has obtained a low-risk level designation determined by a validated risk
assessment instrument approved by the secretary of DPS&C. (7)The offender has completed a reentry program to be determined by DPS&C.
Proposed law further provides that for such parole decisions, the board shall meet in a three-
member panel and each member of the panel shall be provided with and shall consider a written
evaluation of the offender by a person who has expertise in adolescent brain development and
behavior and any other relevant evidence pertaining to the offender.
Proposed law requires the panel to render specific findings of fact in support of its decision. Proposed law requires a sentencing hearing to be held when an offender is to be sentenced to life
imprisonment for a conviction of first degree murder or second degree murder where the offender
was under the age of 18 at the time of the commission of the offense, to determine whether the
sentence shall be imposed with or without parole eligibility in accordance with proposed law.
Provides that sentences imposed without parole eligibility should normally be reserved for the
worst offenders and the worst cases. Provides for the introduction of aggravating and mitigating
evidence at the hearing.
(Amends R.S. 15:574.4(B)(1); Adds R.S. 15:574.4(E) and C.Cr.P. Art. 878.1)
Summary of Amendments Adopted by House
Committee Amendments Proposed by House Committee on Administration of Criminal
Justice to the original bill.
1. Reduced the minimum number of years to be served as a condition of parole
eligibility from 50 years to 35 years.
2.Deleted proposed law provisions requiring a court determination that a life sentence
without parole is unconstitutionally excessive.
3. Added language providing that sentences imposed without parole should be reserved
for the worst offenders and the worst cases.