Prohibits the imposition of a sentence of life without parole upon any person twenty-one (21) years of age or younger.

Rhode Island Senate Bill Summary

This bill would make it illegal for Rhode Island courts to sentence anyone who is 21 years old or younger to life in prison without the possibility of parole, regardless of the crime they committed. Currently, judges can impose a "life without parole" sentence — meaning a person would spend their entire life in prison with no chance of ever being released — on young adults convicted of serious crimes like murder. This bill would eliminate that option for defendants in this age group.

Under this bill, young people convicted of even the most serious crimes could still receive very lengthy prison sentences, but they would have to be given at least some future opportunity to go before a parole board and make their case for release. This does not mean they would automatically be released — it simply means the door to possible release could not be permanently closed at sentencing. A parole board could still deny release if they determined the person remained a danger to society.

This bill would primarily affect young people — teenagers and young adults up to age 21 — who are convicted of serious crimes, as well as prosecutors, judges, and crime victims who may be impacted by sentencing decisions. It builds on a broader legal trend, including U.S. Supreme Court decisions, recognizing that young people's brains are still developing and that they may have greater capacity for rehabilitation than older adults. The bill has been introduced and sent to the Senate Judiciary Committee for further review.