West Virginia SB 239: Second Look Sentencing Act

Bill Text

WEST virginia legislature

2025 regular session

Introduced

Senate Bill 239

By Senators Woodrum, Rucker, Woelfel, and Garcia

[Introduced February 12, 2025; referred

 to the Committee on the Judiciary]





A BILL to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding a new section, designated §62-11A-1b, relating to establishing the Second Look Sentencing Act; and providing a procedure for modification of a prison sentence when a person has served at least 10 years of a sentence.

Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:

ARTICLE 11A. Release for Work or Other Purposes.



§62-11A-1b. Second Look Sentencing Act – Modification of sentencing alternatives.

Notwithstanding any other provision of this code to the contrary:

(a) Modification – Judges may reduce a prison sentence that is more than 10 years for an offense committed before the defendant's 25th birthday if a person has served at least 10 years of their sentence and the court finds that:

(1) The defendant is not a danger to any person or community; or

(2) The defendant presents no credible risk of criminal conduct; or

(3) The defendant demonstrates a readiness for reentry; and 

(4) The interests of justice warrant a sentence modification.

Individuals granted a sentence modification may remain under supervised release for no more than five years following their release from prison. The court shall state on the record the reasons for granting or denying a sentence modification.

(b) Hearing – Upon the filing of a motion pursuant to this section, the circuit court shall appoint counsel for the defendant, and the court shall schedule the matter for an evidentiary hearing. At the evidentiary hearing, the defendant shall be entitled to present documentary evidence and testimony in support of the motion. The defendant shall be present at any hearing conducted under this subsection, unless the defendant affirmatively waives the right to be present.

(c) Ruling – The Court shall issue a written opinion stating the reasons for granting or denying the application under this section, but the court may proceed to sentencing immediately after granting the application.

(d) Mandatory factors – The court, in determining whether to reduce a term of imprisonment pursuant to subsection (a) of this section, shall consider:

(1) The defendant's age at the time of the offense;

(2) The history and characteristics of the defendant;

(3) Whether the defendant has substantially complied with the rules of the institution to which the defendant has been confined, and whether the defendant has completed any educational, vocational, or other program, where available;

(4) Any report or recommendation received from the prosecuting attorney for the county in which the defendant was sentenced;

(5) Whether the defendant has demonstrated maturity, rehabilitation, and a fitness to reenter society sufficient to justify a sentence reduction;

(6) Any statement, provided orally or in writing, provided pursuant to §61-11A-2, or §61-11A-3, or both, by a victim of the offense for which the defendant is imprisoned, or by a family member of the victim if the victim is deceased;

(7) Any reports of physical, mental, or psychiatric examinations of the defendant conducted by licensed health care professionals;

(8) The defendant's family and community circumstances at the time of the offense, including any history of abuse, trauma, or involvement in the child welfare system;

(9) The extent of the defendant's role in the offense and whether and to what extent another person was involved in the offense;

(10) The diminished culpability of juveniles and persons under age 25, as compared to that of older adults, and the hallmark features of youth, including immaturity, impetuosity, and failure to appreciate risks and consequences, which counsel against sentencing them to lengthy terms in prison, despite the brutality or cold-blooded nature of any particular crime, and the defendant's personal circumstances that support an aging out of crime; and

(11) Any other information the court deems relevant to its decision.

(f) Notification of Victims by Prosecuting Attorney – Upon being served a motion pursuant to this subsection, the prosecuting attorney for the county in which the sentence reduction is sought shall make reasonable efforts to contact any victims or surviving family members so that they have an opportunity to be heard on the motion.

(g) Successive Motions – If the court denies or grants only in part the defendant's first motion under this section, a court shall entertain a second application no sooner than three years after the date that the order on the initial motion becomes final. The court shall entertain any successive petition no sooner than three years after the date the order one the most recent motion becomes final.

(h) Relief – The court shall not be permitted to increase any sentence of incarceration based on the filing of a motion under this subse