Death Penalty, premeditated murder
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Progress
Where this bill stands in the legislative process.
- Introduced
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Overview
This bill amends South Carolina law to clarify that premeditated murder is an aggravating circumstance that can be used to justify a death penalty sentence. Specifically, it modifies Section 16-3-20 of the South Carolina Code of Laws to explicitly include ‘premeditated’ as a factor when determining if a murder qualifies for the death penalty. The bill also lists several other aggravating circumstances already included in the statute.
Key provisions
- Adds ‘premeditated’ as an aggravating circumstance for seeking the death penalty.
- Updates Section 16-3-20 to list specific aggravating circumstances.
- Includes a list of crimes and acts that constitute aggravating circumstances.
- Specifies aggravating circumstances related to prior convictions and specific types of offenses.
- Addresses aggravating circumstances related to law enforcement and judicial personnel.
- Includes a provision regarding the murder of a child under 12.
- Addresses the murder of a witness or potential witness.
- Clarifies the definition of ‘family member’ in the context of aggravated circumstances.
Who is affected
- Defendants facing murder charges
- Prosecutors seeking the death penalty
- Victim’s families
- The judicial system
- Law enforcement agencies
Notable changes
Bill text
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