Colorado Legislature Passes Juvenile Life-Sentencing Bill

DENVER (AP) - Colorado's legislature has passed a bill bringing the state in line with U.S. Supreme Court rulings that ban mandatory life sentences without parole for youth offenders.

The House passed a bill Tuesday that affects 48 inmates serving life without parole. They were convicted of first-degree murder and other crimes committed as youths between 1990 and 2006.

Colorado ended the no-parole sentencing practice in 2006. The bill would help those 48 inmates seek - but not guarantee - new sentences.

It says judges may impose life without parole; life with possible parole after 40 years and credit for time served; or 30 to 50 years with possible parole and credit for time served.

A companion bill would allow any youth offender who has served at least 20 years to apply for a transition program that could lead to early parole.

LINK: Senate Bill 16-181

(© Copyright 2016 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)