ATLANTA (March 25, 2009) – Sen. Preston Smith (R-Rome) was successful today in his steadfast effort to expand sentencing options in murder cases, as the House passed his Senate Bill 13 that allows prosecutors to seek sentences of life imprisonment without parole. Under current law, in a non-death penalty case, the only available sentencing option for a court is life with parole upon conviction. A prosecutor must first seek the death penalty in a murder case before they can ask for a life without parole sentence.
“For too long, families of murder victims have been unable to ensure that convicted murders will not be returned to the streets. Now courts will have the option to sentence a convicted murderer to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole,” said Smith. “Death penalty cases will now be given the focused attention they deserve as prosecutors will have the discretion to seek a more suitable sentence free from arbitrary processes.”
Sen. Smith has championed the issue over two legislative sessions, each time with the Senate overwhelmingly voting in favor of the bill. This legislation has been a top priority for district attorneys, as it saves them from having to mount an expensive death penalty trial that can drive up costs over the length of the trial. The measure has also received wide support from prosecutors and courts across Georgia.
Sen. Smith’s judicial retirement bill also saw passage in the House today, and is on its way to the Governor’s desk for his signature. Under Senate Bill 109, certain duties of the Department of Administrative Services are transferred to the appropriate judicial agencies, and clarifications are made as to the source of funds used to cover employer contributions.
For more information on the Georgia State Senate or to view Senate Bills 13 and 109, please visit www.senate.ga.gov.
Sen. Preston Smith serves as Chairman of the Judiciary Committee. He represents the 52nd Senate District which includes Floyd County and portions of Bartow and Gordon counties. He may be reached by phone at 404.656.0034 or by e-mail at preston.smith@senate.ga.gov.
PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release:
March 25, 2009
For Information Contact:
Raegan Weber, Director
Kallarin Richards, Senior Communications Specialist
kallarin.richards@senate.ga.gov
404.656.0028