Senate
Study
Bill
1185
-
Introduced
SENATE
FILE
_____
BY
(PROPOSED
COMMITTEE
ON
JUDICIARY
BILL
BY
CHAIRPERSON
SODDERS)
A
BILL
FOR
An
Act
relating
to
the
commission
of
a
class
“A”
felony
by
1
a
person
under
18
years
of
age,
providing
penalties,
and
2
including
effective
date
and
applicability
provisions.
3
BE
IT
ENACTED
BY
THE
GENERAL
ASSEMBLY
OF
THE
STATE
OF
IOWA:
4
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Section
1.
Section
902.1,
subsection
2,
Code
2015,
is
1
amended
by
striking
the
subsection
and
inserting
in
lieu
2
thereof
the
following:
3
2.
a.
Notwithstanding
subsection
1,
a
defendant
convicted
4
of
murder
in
the
first
degree
in
violation
of
section
707.2,
5
and
who
was
under
the
age
of
eighteen
at
the
time
the
offense
6
was
committed
shall
receive
one
the
following
sentences:
7
(1)
Commitment
to
the
director
of
the
department
of
8
corrections
for
the
rest
of
the
defendant’s
life
with
no
9
possibility
of
parole
unless
the
governor
commutes
the
sentence
10
to
a
term
of
years.
11
(2)
Commitment
to
the
custody
of
the
director
of
the
12
department
of
corrections
for
the
rest
of
the
defendant’s
life
13
with
the
possibility
of
parole
after
serving
a
minimum
term
of
14
confinement
of
thirty-five
years.
15
(3)
Commitment
to
the
custody
of
the
director
of
the
16
department
of
corrections
for
the
rest
of
the
defendant’s
life
17
with
the
possibility
of
parole.
18
b.
(1)
The
prosecuting
attorney
shall
provide
reasonable
19
notice
to
the
defendant,
after
conviction
and
prior
to
20
sentencing,
of
the
state’s
intention
to
seek
a
life
sentence
21
with
no
possibility
of
parole
under
paragraph
“a”
,
subparagraph
22
(1).
23
(2)
In
determining
which
sentence
to
impose,
the
court
shall
24
consider
all
circumstances
including
but
not
limited
to
the
25
following:
26
(a)
The
impact
of
the
offense
on
each
victim,
as
defined
in
27
section
915.10,
through
the
use
of
a
victim
impact
statement,
28
as
defined
in
section
915.10,
under
any
format
permitted
by
29
section
915.13.
The
victim
impact
statement
may
include
30
comment
on
the
sentence
of
the
defendant.
31
(b)
The
impact
of
the
offense
on
the
community.
32
(c)
The
threat
to
the
safety
of
the
public
or
any
individual
33
posed
by
the
defendant.
34
(d)
The
degree
of
participation
in
the
murder
by
the
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defendant.
1
(e)
The
nature
of
the
offense.
2
(f)
The
defendant’s
remorse.
3
(g)
The
defendant’s
acceptance
of
responsibility.
4
(h)
The
severity
of
the
offense,
including
any
of
the
5
following:
6
(i)
The
commission
of
the
murder
while
participating
in
7
another
felony.
8
(ii)
The
number
of
victims.
9
(iii)
The
heinous,
brutal,
cruel
manner
of
the
murder,
10
including
whether
the
murder
was
the
result
of
torture.
11
(i)
The
capacity
of
the
defendant
to
appreciate
the
12
criminality
of
the
conduct.
13
(j)
Whether
the
ability
to
conform
the
defendant’s
conduct
14
with
the
requirements
of
the
law
was
substantially
impaired.
15
(k)
The
level
of
maturity
of
the
defendant.
16
(l)
The
intellectual
and
mental
capacity
of
the
defendant.
17
(m)
The
nature
and
extent
of
any
prior
juvenile
delinquency
18
or
criminal
history
of
the
defendant,
including
the
success
or
19
failure
of
previous
attempts
at
rehabilitation.
20
(n)
The
mental
health
history
of
the
defendant.
21
(o)
The
level
of
compulsion,
duress,
or
influence
exerted
22
upon
the
defendant,
but
not
to
such
an
extent
as
to
constitute
23
a
defense.
24
(p)
The
likelihood
of
the
commission
of
further
offenses
by
25
the
defendant.
26
(q)
The
chronological
age
of
the
defendant
and
the
features
27
of
youth,
including
immaturity,
impetuosity,
and
failure
to
28
appreciate
risks
and
consequences.
29
(r)
The
family
and
home
environment
that
surrounded
the
30
defendant.
31
(s)
The
circumstances
of
the
murder
including
the
extent
32
of
the
defendant’s
participation
in
the
conduct
and
the
way
33
familial
and
peer
pressure
may
have
affected
the
defendant.
34
(t)
The
competencies
associated
with
youth,
including
but
35
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not
limited
to
the
defendant’s
inability
to
deal
with
peace
1
officers
or
the
prosecution
or
the
defendant’s
incapacity
to
2
assist
the
defendant’s
attorney
in
the
defendant’s
defense.
3
(u)
The
possibility
of
rehabilitation.
4
(v)
Any
other
information
considered
relevant
by
the
5
sentencing
court.
6
Sec.
2.
Section
902.1,
Code
2015,
is
amended
by
adding
the
7
following
new
subsections:
8
NEW
SUBSECTION
.
3.
a.
Notwithstanding
subsections
1
and
2,
9
a
defendant
convicted
of
a
class
“A”
felony,
other
than
murder
10
in
the
first
degree
in
violation
of
section
707.2,
and
who
was
11
under
the
age
of
eighteen
at
the
time
the
offense
was
committed
12
shall
receive
one
of
the
following
sentences:
13
(1)
Commitment
to
the
director
of
the
department
of
14
corrections
for
the
rest
of
the
defendant’s
life
with
15
the
possibility
of
parole
after
serving
a
minimum
term
of
16
confinement
of
twenty-five
years.
17
(2)
Commitment
to
the
custody
of
the
director
of
the
18
department
of
corrections
for
the
rest
of
the
defendant’s
life
19
with
the
possibility
of
parole
after
serving
a
minimum
term
of
20
confinement
as
determined
by
the
court.
21
(3)
Commitment
to
the
custody
of
the
director
of
the
22
department
of
corrections
for
the
rest
of
the
defendant’s
life
23
with
the
possibility
of
parole.
24
b.
(1)
The
prosecuting
attorney
shall
provide
reasonable
25
notice
to
the
defendant,
after
conviction
and
prior
to
26
sentencing,
of
the
state’s
intention
to
seek
a
life
sentence
27
with
a
mandatory
minimum
term
of
confinement
of
twenty-five
28
years
under
paragraph
“a”
,
subparagraph
(1).
29
(2)
In
determining
which
sentence
to
impose,
the
court
shall
30
consider
all
circumstances
including
but
not
limited
to
the
31
following:
32
(a)
The
impact
of
the
offense
on
each
victim,
as
defined
in
33
section
915.10,
through
the
use
of
a
victim
impact
statement,
34
as
defined
in
section
915.10,
under
any
format
permitted
by
35
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_____
section
915.13.
The
victim
impact
statement
may
include
1
comment
on
the
sentence
of
the
defendant.
2
(b)
The
impact
of
the
offense
on
the
community.
3
(c)
The
threat
to
the
safety
of
the
public
or
any
individual
4
posed
by
the
defendant.
5
(d)
The
degree
of
participation
in
the
offense
by
the
6
defendant.
7
(e)
The
nature
of
the
offense.
8
(f)
The
defendant’s
remorse.
9
(g)
The
defendant’s
acceptance
of
responsibility.
10
(h)
The
severity
of
the
offense,
including
any
of
the
11
following:
12
(i)
The
commission
of
the
offense
while
participating
in
13
another
felony.
14
(ii)
The
number
of
victims.
15
(iii)
The
heinous,
brutal,
cruel
manner
of
the
offense,
16
including
whether
the
offense
involved
torture.
17
(i)
The
capacity
of
the
defendant
to
appreciate
the
18
criminality
of
the
conduct.
19
(j)
Whether
the
ability
to
conform
the
defendant’s
conduct
20
with
the
requirements
of
the
law
was
substantially
impaired.
21
(k)
The
level
of
maturity
of
the
defendant.
22
(l)
The
intellectual
and
mental
capacity
of
the
defendant.
23
(m)
The
nature
and
extent
of
any
prior
juvenile
delinquency
24
or
criminal
history
of
the
defendant,
including
the
success
or
25
failure
of
previous
attempts
at
rehabilitation.
26
(n)
The
mental
health
history
of
the
defendant.
27
(o)
The
level
of
compulsion,
duress,
or
influence
exerted
28
upon
the
defendant,
but
not
to
such
an
extent
as
to
constitute
29
a
defense.
30
(p)
The
likelihood
of
the
commission
of
further
offenses
by
31
the
defendant.
32
(q)
The
chronological
age
of
the
defendant
and
the
features
33
of
youth,
including
immaturity,
impetuosity,
and
failure
to
34
appreciate
risks
and
consequences.
35
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(r)
The
family
and
home
environment
that
surrounded
the
1
defendant.
2
(s)
The
circumstances
of
the
offense
including
the
extent
of
3
the
defendant’s
participation
in
the
conduct
and
the
way
the
4
familial
and
peer
pressure
may
have
affected
the
defendant.
5
(t)
The
competencies
associated
with
youth,
including
but
6
not
limited
to
the
defendant’s
inability
to
deal
with
peace
7
officers
or
the
prosecution
or
the
defendant’s
incapacity
to
8
assist
the
defendant’s
attorney
in
the
defendant’s
defense.
9
(u)
The
possibility
of
rehabilitation.
10
(v)
Any
other
information
considered
relevant
by
the
11
sentencing
court.
12
NEW
SUBSECTION
.
4.
If
a
defendant
is
paroled
pursuant
to
13
subsection
2
or
3,
the
defendant
shall
be
subject
to
the
same
14
set
of
procedures
set
out
in
chapters
901B,
905,
906,
and
908,
15
and
rules
adopted
under
those
chapters
for
persons
on
parole.
16
Sec.
3.
Section
903A.2,
subsection
5,
Code
2015,
is
amended
17
to
read
as
follows:
18
5.
Earned
time
accrued
by
inmates
serving
life
sentences
19
imposed
under
section
902.1
shall
not
reduce
the
life
sentence,
20
but
or
any
mandatory
minimum
sentence
imposed
under
section
21
902.1,
except
that
earned
time
accrued
shall
be
credited
22
against
the
inmate’s
life
sentence
if
the
life
sentence
is
23
commuted
to
a
term
of
years
under
section
902.2
,
but
shall
not
24
reduce
any
mandatory
minimum
sentence
imposed
under
section
25
902.1
.
26
Sec.
4.
EFFECTIVE
UPON
ENACTMENT.
This
Act,
being
deemed
of
27
immediate
importance,
takes
effect
upon
enactment.
28
Sec.
5.
APPLICABILITY.
The
sentencing
provisions
of
this
29
Act
shall
apply
to
a
person
who
was
convicted
of
a
class
“A”
30
felony
prior
to,
on,
or
after
the
effective
date
of
this
Act
31
and
who
was
under
the
age
of
eighteen
at
the
time
the
offense
32
was
committed.
33
EXPLANATION
34
The
inclusion
of
this
explanation
does
not
constitute
agreement
with
35
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the
explanation’s
substance
by
the
members
of
the
general
assembly.
1
This
bill
relates
to
the
commission
of
a
class
“A”
felony
by
2
a
person
under
18
years
of
age,
and
provides
penalties.
3
Current
Iowa
statutory
law
provides
that
a
person
under
4
18
years
of
age
who
commits
a
class
“A”
felony,
other
than
5
murder
in
the
first
degree,
shall
be
eligible
for
parole
after
6
serving
a
minimum
term
of
confinement
of
25
years.
Also,
under
7
current
Iowa
statutory
law,
a
person
under
18
years
of
age
who
8
commits
murder
in
the
first
degree
must
serve
a
life
sentence
9
without
the
possibility
of
parole
which
equals
the
sentences
10
of
other
class
“A”
felons.
However,
the
United
States
Supreme
11
Court
in
Miller
v.
Alabama,
132
S.
Ct.
2455
(2012),
has
ruled
12
that
a
mandatory
life
sentence
without
the
possibility
of
13
parole
for
a
person
under
18
years
of
age
who
commits
murder
14
is
unconstitutional.
In
addition,
the
Iowa
Supreme
Court
in
15
State
v.
Lyle,
854
N.W.2d
378
(Iowa
2014),
ruled
that
the
Iowa
16
Constitution
forbids
a
mandatory
minimum
sentencing
schema
for
17
juvenile
offenders
that
deprives
the
district
court
of
the
18
discretion
to
consider
youth
and
its
attendant
circumstances
19
as
mitigating
factors.
20
The
bill
provides
that
a
person
who
commits
murder
in
the
21
first
degree
and
who
was
under
the
age
of
18
at
the
time
the
22
offense
was
committed
shall
be
sentenced
to
serve
one
of
three
23
sentencing
options.
The
first
option
provides
that
the
court
24
sentence
the
person
to
confinement
for
the
rest
of
the
person’s
25
life
with
no
possibility
of
parole
unless
the
governor
commutes
26
the
sentence
to
a
term
of
years.
The
second
option
provides
27
that
the
court
sentence
the
person
to
confinement
for
the
rest
28
of
the
person’s
life
with
the
possibility
of
parole
after
29
serving
a
minimum
term
of
confinement
of
35
years.
Under
the
30
third
option,
the
court
sentences
the
person
to
confinement
for
31
the
rest
of
the
person’s
life
with
the
possibility
of
parole.
32
The
bill
lists
numerous
circumstances
for
the
court
to
33
consider
prior
to
sentencing
a
person
who
commits
murder
in
the
34
first
degree
and
who
was
under
the
age
of
18
at
the
time
the
35
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_____
offense
was
committed.
1
The
bill
provides
that
a
person
who
commits
a
class
“A”
2
felony,
other
than
murder
in
the
first
degree,
and
who
was
3
under
the
age
of
18
at
the
time
the
offense
was
committed
4
shall
be
sentenced
to
serve
one
of
three
sentencing
options.
5
The
first
option
provides
that
the
court
sentence
the
6
person
to
confinement
for
the
rest
of
the
person’s
life
with
7
the
possibility
of
parole
after
serving
a
minimum
term
of
8
confinement
of
25
years.
The
second
option
provides
that
the
9
court
sentence
the
person
to
confinement
for
the
rest
of
the
10
person’s
life
with
the
possibility
of
parole
after
serving
a
11
minimum
term
of
confinement
as
determined
by
the
court.
Under
12
the
third
option,
the
court
sentences
the
person
to
confinement
13
for
the
rest
of
the
person’s
life
with
the
possibility
of
14
parole.
15
The
bill
lists
numerous
circumstances
for
the
court
to
16
consider
prior
to
sentencing
a
person
who
commits
a
class
“A”
17
felony,
other
than
murder
in
the
first
degree,
and
who
was
18
under
the
age
of
18
at
the
time
the
offense
was
committed.
This
19
list
of
circumstances
is
similar
to
the
list
of
circumstances
20
the
court
must
consider
for
a
person
under
the
age
of
18
who
21
commits
murder
in
the
first
degree.
22
A
person
paroled
pursuant
to
the
bill
is
subject
to
the
same
23
set
of
procedures
set
out
in
Code
chapters
901B,
905,
906,
and
24
908,
and
rules
adopted
under
those
Code
chapters
for
persons
25
on
parole.
26
The
bill
prohibits
earned
time
from
reducing
any
mandatory
27
minimum
sentence
imposed
under
Code
section
902.1.
28
The
bill
takes
effect
upon
enactment
and
applies
to
a
person
29
who
was
convicted
of
a
class
“A”
felony
prior
to,
on,
or
after
30
the
effective
date
of
the
bill
and
who
was
under
the
age
of
18
31
at
the
time
the
offense
was
committed.
32
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2259XC
(3)
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7