Signed by Governor Dan Malloy

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that repeals the death penalty, effective upon passage.

Highlights:

• Repeals the death penalty as a sentencing option for capital felony cases that occur after the passage of this bill (Secs. 1 & 7).

• Redefines capital felony as “murder with special circumstances” (Sec. 1).

• Requires a person convicted of murder with special circumstances to be given a term of life imprisonment without the possibility of release (Sec. 2).

• Requires all death sentences to be reviewed by the Supreme Court in order to confirm the sentence or waive and impose a new sentence required by the provisions of this bill (Sec. 6).

• Specifies that no person may be convicted of any crime with a penalty of death or life imprisonment without the possibility of release unless at least 2 witnesses give testimony at the trial (Sec. 29).

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that repeals the death penalty, effective upon passage.

Highlights:

• Repeals the death penalty as a sentencing option for capital felony cases that occur after the passage of this bill (Secs. 1 & 7).

• Redefines capital felony as “murder with special circumstances” (Sec. 1).

• Requires a person convicted of murder with special circumstances to be given a term of life imprisonment without the possibility of release (Sec. 2).

• Requires all death sentences to be reviewed by the Supreme Court in order to confirm the sentence or waive and impose a new sentence required by the provisions of this bill (Sec. 6).

• Specifies that no person may be convicted of any crime with a penalty of death or life imprisonment without the possibility of release unless at least 2 witnesses give testimony at the trial (Sec. 29).

Full Bill Text