What's happening
This bill amends sentencing procedures for first-degree murder in New York, adding new sentencing options and clarifying jury instructions.
Why it matters
Creates a third sentencing option. for first-degree murder convictions, allowing juries to recommend a prison term of 20-25 years to life (not just death or life without parole), which could result in greater flexibility and individualized sentencing outcomes for defendants.
Changes what happens if a jury can't agree on a sentence. now, if the jury is deadlocked, the court must impose life without parole, rather than the previous default of a minimum 20-25 year sentence. This raises the stakes for juries to reach consensus and may influence deliberations.
Clarifies and updates jury instructions. during sentencing, ensuring jurors know all available sentencing options and emphasizing the need for unanimity, which could reduce confusion and the risk of mistrials or appeals based on improper instructions.
Applies retroactively and prospectively. to crimes committed before, on, or after the law’s effective date, potentially affecting current and past cases where sentencing for first-degree murder is still pending or under appeal.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Change Death Penalty Sentencing
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Recommitted to rules
- Ordered to third reading cal.877
- Committee discharged and committed to rules
- Referred to codes
- Referred to rules
Full text
3 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
6846
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
August 7, 2017
Introduced by Sen. GOLDEN -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Rules
AN ACT to amend the criminal procedure law, in relation to capital punishment
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Subdivision 1 of section 400.27 of the criminal procedure law, as added by chapter 1 of the laws of 1995, is amended to read as follows:
1. Upon [the] conviction of a defendant for the offense of murder in the first degree as defined by section 125.27 of the penal law, the court shall promptly conduct a separate sentencing proceeding to determine whether the defendant shall be sentenced to death [or], to life imprisonment without parole pursuant to subdivision five of section 70.00 of the penal law, or to a sentence of imprisonment for the class A-I felony of murder in the first degree other than a sentence of life imprisonment without parole. Nothing in this section shall be deemed to preclude the people at any time from determining that the death penalty shall not be sought in a particular case, in which case the separate sentencing proceeding shall not be conducted and the court may sentence such defendant to life imprisonment without parole or to a sentence of imprisonment for the class A-I felony of murder in the first degree other than a sentence of life imprisonment without parole.
§ 2. Subdivision 10 of section 400.27 of the criminal procedure law, as added by chapter 1 of the laws of 1995, is amended to read as follows:
10. (a) At the conclusion of all the evidence, the people and the defendant may present argument in summation for or against the sentence sought by the people. The people may deliver the first summation and the defendant may then deliver the last summation. Thereafter, the court shall deliver a charge to the jury on any matters appropriate in the
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD13352-01-7
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circumstances. In its charge, the court must instruct the jury that with respect to each count of murder in the first degree the jury should consider whether or not a sentence of death should be imposed and whether or not a sentence of life imprisonment without parole should be imposed[,] and [that the jury must be unanimous with respect to either sentence. The court must also instruct the jury that in the event the jury fails to reach unanimous agreement with respect to the sentence, the court will sentence the defendant to a term of imprisonment with a minimum term of between twenty and twenty-five years and a maximum term of life. Following the court's charge, the jury shall retire to consider the sentence to be imposed. Unless inconsistent with the provisions of this section, the provisions of sections 310.10, 310.20 and 310.30 shall govern the deliberations of the jury] whether or not a sentence to a term of imprisonment with a minimum term of between twenty and twentyfive years, to be determined by the court, and a maximum term of life imprisonment should be imposed.
(b) The court must instruct the jury that the jury must be unanimous with respect to the sentence to be imposed. The court must also instruct the jury that in the event the jury fails to reach unanimous agreement with respect to the sentence, the court will sentence the defendant to a term of life imprisonment without parole.
(c) Following the court's charge, the jury shall retire to consider the sentence to be imposed. Unless inconsistent with the provisions of this section, the provisions of sections 310.10, 310.20 and 310.30 of this chapter shall govern the deliberations of the jury.
§ 3. Subdivision 11 of section 400.27 of the criminal procedure law, as added by chapter 1 of the laws of 1995, is amended to read as follows:
11. (a) The jury may not direct imposition of a sentence of death unless it unanimously finds beyond a reasonable doubt that the aggravating factor or factors substantially outweigh the mitigating factor or factors established, if any, and unanimously determines that the penalty of death should be imposed. Any member or members of the jury who find a mitigating factor to have been proven by the defendant by a preponderance of the evidence may consider such factor established regardless of the number of jurors who concur that the factor has been established.
(b) If the jury directs imposition of [either] a sentence of death [or], a sentence of life imprisonment without parole, or a sentence to a term of imprisonment with a minimum term of between twenty and twentyfive years, to be determined by the court, and a maximum term of life imprisonment, it shall specify on the record those mitigating and aggravating factors considered and those mitigating factors established by the defendant, if any.
(c) With respect to a count or concurrent counts of murder in the first degree, the court may direct the jury to cease deliberation with respect to the sentence or sentences to be imposed if the jury has deliberated for an extensive period of time without reaching unanimous agreement on the sentence or sentences to be imposed and the court is satisfied that any such agreement is unlikely within a reasonable time. The provisions of this paragraph shall apply with respect to consecutive counts of murder in the first degree. In the event the jury is unable to reach unanimous agreement, the court must sentence the defendant in accordance with [subdivisions one through three] subdivision five of section 70.00 of the penal law with respect to any count or counts of murder in the first degree upon which the jury failed to reach unanimous agreement as to the sentence to be imposed.
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(d) If the jury unanimously determines that a sentence of death should be imposed, the court must thereupon impose a sentence of death. Thereafter, however, the court may, upon written motion of the defendant, set aside the sentence of death upon any of the grounds set forth in section 330.30 of this chapter. The procedures set forth in sections 330.40 and 330.50 of this chapter, as applied to separate sentencing proceedings under this section, shall govern the motion and the court upon granting the motion shall, except as may otherwise be required by subdivision one of section 330.50 of this chapter, direct a new sentencing proceeding pursuant to this section. Upon granting the motion upon any of the grounds set forth in section 330.30 of this chapter and setting aside the sentence, the court must afford the people a reasonable period of time, which shall not be less than ten days, to determine whether to take an appeal from the order setting aside the sentence of death. The taking of an appeal by the people stays the effectiveness of that portion of the court's order that directs a new sentencing proceeding.
(e) If the jury unanimously determines that a sentence of life imprisonment without parole should be imposed, the court must thereupon impose a sentence of life imprisonment without parole.
(e-1) If the jury unanimously determines that a sentence to a term of imprisonment with a minimum term of between twenty and twenty-five years, to be determined by the court, and a maximum term of life imprisonment should be imposed, the court must thereupon impose such sentence.
(f) Where a sentence has been unanimously determined by the jury it must be recorded on the minutes and read to the jury, and the jurors must be collectively asked whether such is their sentence. Even though no juror makes any declaration in the negative, the jury must, if either party makes such an application, be polled and each juror separately asked whether the sentence announced by the foreman is in all respects his or her sentence. If, upon either the collective or the separate inquiry, any juror answers in the negative, the court must refuse to accept the sentence and must direct the jury to resume its deliberation. If no disagreement is expressed, the jury must be discharged from the case.
§ 4. Severability. If any clause, sentence, paragraph, subdivision, section or part of this act shall be adjudged by any court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, such judgment shall not affect, impair, or invalidate the remainder thereof, but shall be confined in its operation to the clause, sentence, paragraph, subdivision, section or part thereof directly involved in the controversy in which such judgment shall have been rendered. It is hereby declared to be the intent of the legislature that this act would have been enacted even if such invalid provisions had not been included therewith.
§ 5. This act shall take effect immediately, and shall apply to crimes committed prior to, on or after the effective date of this act.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the criminal procedure law, in relation to capital punishment
Purpose or general idea of bill
The bill addresses the recent Court of appeals decision in People v LaValle, 3 N. Y.3d 88 (2004), by mandating that those convicted of first degree murder be unanimously sentenced by a jury to death, life imprisonment without parole, or an indeterminate sentence with a minimum term of between 20 and 25 years, to be determined by the court, and a maximum term of life imprisonment. If a jury is unable to unanimously agree upon any of the aforementioned permissible sentences, then the defendant will be sentenced to a term of life imprisonment without parole.
Summary of provisions
Sections 1 and 2 of the bill would amend Subdivisions 1 and 10 of section 400.27 of the Criminal Procedure Law to include among the list of sentences the jury is permitted to impose following a conviction of Murder in the First Degree, an indeterminate sentence with a minimum term of between 20 and 25 years, to be determined by the Court, and a maximum term of life imprisonment. Section 2 also provides that the jury will be instructed that in the case of a jury deadlock (the jury is unable to unanimously agree on any of the three permissible sentencing options), the defendant will be sentenced to life imprisonment without parole.
Read the full memo (649 words)
Section 3 of the bill would amend subdivision 11 of section 400.27 of the Criminal Procedure Law to conform to sections 1 and 2 of the bill.
Section 4 of the bill contains a severability clause.
Section 5 of the bill provides that this act shall take effect immediately, and shall apply to crimes committed prior to, on or after the effective date of this act.
Existing law
The current deadlock instruction prescribed in Criminal Procedure Law section 400 27(10) was held to be unconstitutional by the Court of Appeals in People v La Valle.
Justification
The Court of Appeals, in People v LaValle, 3 N.Y.3d 88 (2004), held that the jury instruction in a capital case which informs the jury that in the case of a jury deadlock the defendant is automatically sentenced to an indeterminate sentence with a minimum term of between 20 and 25 years, and a maximum term of life imprisonment, impermissibly inserts concern regarding the defendant's future dangerousness into the jury deliberations, and thereby potentially coerces a juror, who might prefer a sentence of life without parole, to vote instead for a sentence of death so as to preclude the defendant's future release, The Court of Appeals further held that the Due Process Clause of the New York State Constitution requires that the jury be instructed as to the consequences of a deadlock in their sentencing deliberations.
This bill would remedy the Court of Appeals' concern regarding coercion by mandating a sentence of life without parole if the sentencing jury deadlocks, thereby eliminating the possibility that a defendant in such a case could ever be released, Therefore, a juror who, in good conscience, believed that death was not an appropriate sentence in such a case could not be coerced into voting for death out of fear of the defendant's release. Moreover, the Court's requirement that the sentencing jury be informed of the result of their inability to reach a unanimous sentencing verdict is met by adapting the existing instruction to reflect the new jury default sentence of life without parole.
Prior legislative history
2009-2010: S.2235 - Referred to Codes 2007-08: S.4632 - Passed the Senate both years 2005-06: S.2727 - Passed the Senate both years 2004: S.7720 - Passed the Senate
Fiscal implications
To be determined.
Effective date
This act shall take effect immediately, and shall apply to crimes committed prior to, on or after the effective date of this act.
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