S 2719Violent Crime Penalties

Criminal Offenses - Homicide

This bill prohibits sentencing anyone twenty-one years old or younger to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

Held for study

Population
Affected

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Introduced Feb 27, 2026Committee Senate Judiciary

Plain-English Summary

This legislation amends Rhode Island's homicide statutes regarding sentencing for first-degree murder. Specifically, it prohibits the imposition of a sentence of life imprisonment without the possibility of parole for any defendant who was twenty-one years of age or younger at the time the crime was committed. This prohibition applies even in cases involving aggravating circumstances, such as the murder of a police officer, murder during the commission of another felony, or the murder of a kidnapped minor. While these offenders will still face life imprisonment, they must be legally eligible for parole consideration.

For younger readers

This rule changes how the courts punish young people who commit very serious crimes, like killing someone. Right now, for the very worst crimes, a judge can send a person to prison for the rest of their life with no chance of ever leaving. This new rule says that if the person who broke the law is 21 years old or younger, the judge cannot say they must stay in prison forever without any hope. They will still go to prison for a very long time, but one day, they will have a chance to ask to be let out.

Who & Where It Applies

Impacted groups

Offenders age 21 and youngerVictims of violent crime and their familiesRhode Island JudiciaryParole BoardDepartment of Corrections

Impacted communities

All

Constitutional & Fiscal Check

None Likely

Estimated cost

None

Estimated revenue

None

Bill Analysis

Both viewpoints

For Progressives

Acknowledges scientific research on brain development indicating that individuals up to age 21 lack full impulse control and decision-making maturity, making them more capable of rehabilitation than older adults.
Moves the justice system away from purely punitive measures by ensuring that young offenders have an opportunity for redemption and reintegration into society after serving their time.
Helps mitigate systemic inequities, as data suggests that minority youth are disproportionately sentenced to the harshest penalties, including life without parole, compared to their white peers.
Does not appear to apply retroactively, leaving those currently serving life without parole sentences for crimes committed under the age of 21 without immediate legal recourse.
Retains the underlying structure of life imprisonment, which many progressives argue is still an excessive and inhumane response to crimes committed by young people, regardless of parole eligibility.
Fails to address the root causes of youth violence, such as poverty and lack of education, focusing instead on the backend of the criminal legal process.

For Conservatives

Potentially reduces long-term taxpayer burdens, as housing geriatric inmates who pose little risk to society is significantly more expensive than processing them through the parole system.
Aligns with religious and moral principles regarding the possibility of redemption, allowing a young person the distant opportunity to prove they have transformed their life.
Protects the state from future litigation costs by adhering to evolving constitutional standards regarding "cruel and unusual punishment" for youthful offenders.
Undermines the rule of law by treating adults between the ages of 18 and 21 as children, despite their legal ability to vote, join the military, and make other adult decisions.
Denies full justice and closure to the families of victims, specifically in heinous cases involving torture or the murder of law enforcement, by removing the guarantee that the killer will never walk free.
Weakens the deterrent power of the criminal justice system by removing the ultimate penalty (short of capital punishment) for the most violent crimes committed by young adults.

Votes

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Full Bill Text

Changes to existing Rhode Island law · 6 additions

SECTION 1. Sections 11-23-2 and 11-23-2.1 of the General Laws in Chapter 11-23 entitled "Homicide" are hereby amended to read as follows: 11-23-2. Penalties for murder. Every person guilty of murder in the first degree shall be imprisoned for life. Every person guilty of murder in the first degree: (1) committed intentionally while engaged in the commission of another capital offense or other felony for which life imprisonment may be imposed; (2) committed in a manner creating a great risk of death to more than one person by means of a weapon or device or substance which would normally be hazardous to the life of more than one person; (3) committed at the direction of another person in return for money or any other thing of monetary value from that person; (4) committed in a manner involving torture or an aggravated battery to the victim; (5) committed against any member of the judiciary, law enforcement officer, corrections employee, assistant attorney general or special assistant attorney general, or firefighter arising from the lawful performance of his or her official duties; (6) committed by a person who at the time of the murder was committed to confinement in the adult correctional institutions or the state reformatory for women upon conviction of a felony; or (7) committed during the course of the perpetration or attempted perpetration of felony manufacture, sale, delivery or other distribution of a controlled substance otherwise prohibited by the provisions of chapter 28 of title 21; shall be imprisoned for life and if ordered by the court pursuant to chapter 19.2 of title 12 that person shall not be eligible for parole from imprisonment; provided that, no person twenty-one (21) years of age or younger shall be imprisoned without the possibility of parole. Every person guilty of murder in the second degree shall be imprisoned for not less than ten (10) years and may be imprisoned for life. 11-23-2.1. Penalty for murder of a kidnapped person under the age of eighteen (18). If any person under the age of eighteen (18) who is kidnapped in violation of § 11-26-1 by a person other than his or her natural or adopted parent dies as a direct result of the kidnapping, then the person convicted of the offense shall be guilty of murder in the first degree and shall be punished by imprisonment for life, and the court may, pursuant to chapter 19.2 of title 12, order that that person not be eligible for parole, provided, that no person twenty-one (21) years of age or younger shall be imprisoned without the possibility of parole.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.