Utah Senate Bill 228 Penalties for Specified Juvenile Offenses
Governor Gary Herbert signed Senate Bill 228 into law on March 22; it went into effect on May 14, 2013. The bill amends the Utah Criminal Code concerning imprisonment for some first degree felonies when the defendant is under 18 years old at the time the offense is committed.
Senate Bill 228
Senate Bill 228 provides the following:
• If a defendant is younger than 18 at the time he commits first degree aggravated murder, then that offense is not considered a capital offense
• A person under 18 years old at the time he commits a felony that would normally carry a penalty of life without parole cannot be subjected to that particular penalty
Some of the felonies included in this amendment are:
• Aggravated murder
• Child kidnapping
• Aggravated kidnapping
• Rape
• Rape of a child
• Object rape
• Object rape of a child
• Forcible sodomy
• Sodomy on a child
• Sexual abuse of a child
• Aggravated sexual abuse of a child
• Aggravated sexual assault
Utah isn’t the only state making some reforms when it comes to sentencing juveniles to lengthy jail/prison sentences. Other states are also leaning towards the trend (which began with a decision by the U.S. Supreme Court) of reducing life in prison without parole penalties.
What Do You Think?
What are your thoughts on this subject? The way Senate Bill 228 and another related Utah law are written, if a minor’s case is transferred to district court, he won’t be eligible for reduced juvenile consequences—regardless of his age.
How You Can Help Your Child
Because Utah law is extremely complex, it’s in a child’s best interests to be represented by an experienced Utah juvenile defense attorney. Give your child a fighting chance to make amends for any mistakes he’s committed; contact a top Utah juvenile defense attorney today.
