HB 4041
Making it a mandatory 25 year sentence for an assault on any law enforcement or animal
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Sign in to take action- Introduced
- Passed House of Delegates
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Bill overview
This bill proposes to increase the penalties for assaulting law enforcement officers or animals in West Virginia. It mandates a minimum sentence of 25 years in prison for those convicted of maliciously assaulting a law enforcement officer or animal, defined broadly to include correctional employees and law enforcement animals. The bill also establishes penalties for unlawful assault, battery, and attempted violent injury, with escalating fines and imprisonment based on prior offenses.
Key provisions
- Establishes a mandatory minimum sentence of 25 years for malicious assault of a law enforcement officer or animal.
- Defines ‘Government representative’ to include various state and local officials and employees.
- Expands the definition of ‘law-enforcement officer’ to include chief executives.
- Creates penalties for unlawful assault, battery, and attempted violent injury against government representatives, health care workers, utility workers, emergency service personnel, correctional employees, and law enforcement officers.
- Increases penalties for subsequent offenses, including a felony charge and potential imprisonment.
- Specifies that sentences for offenders incarcerated in West Virginia correctional facilities must run consecutively.
- Includes provisions regarding concurrent sentencing for offenders with correctional employee victims.
Who is affected
- Law enforcement officers
- Animal control officers/Animal Services Personnel
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