§ 22-2104 — Penalty for murder in first and second degrees.

District of Columbia § 22-2104

• Jurisdiction: District of Columbia
• Title 22: Criminal Offenses and Penalties.
• Ch. 21: Murder; Manslaughter.

Text

(a) The punishment for murder in the first degree shall be not less than 30 years nor more than life imprisonment without release, except that the court may impose a prison sentence in excess of 60 years only in accordance with § 22-2104.01 or § 24-403.01(b-2) . The prosecution shall notify the defendant in writing at least 30 days prior to trial that it intends to seek a sentence of life imprisonment without release as provided in § 22-2104.01 ; provided that, no person who was less than 18 years of age at the time the murder was committed shall be sentenced to life imprisonment without release.

(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a person convicted of murder in the first degree shall not be released from prison prior to the expiration of 30 years from the date of the commencement of the sentence.

(c) Whoever is guilty of murder in the second degree shall be sentenced to a period of incarceration of not more than life, except that the court may impose a prison sentence in excess of 40 years only in accordance with § 24-403.01(b-2) .

(d) For purposes of imprisonment following revocation of release authorized by § 24-403.01(b)(7) , murder in the first degree and murder in the second degree are Class A felonies.

(e) In addition to any other penalty provided under this section, a person may be fined an amount not more than the amount set forth in § 22-3571.01 .

Legislative History

Mar. 3, 1901, 31 Stat. 1321, ch. 854, § 801; Jan. 30, 1925, 43 Stat. 798, ch. 115, § 1; Mar. 22, 1962, 76 Stat. 46, Pub. L. 87-423, § 1; Feb. 26, 1981, D.C. Law 3-113, § 2, 27 DCR 5624; Sept. 26, 1992, D.C. Law 9-153, § 2(b), (c), 39 DCR 3868; May 23, 1995, D.C. Law 10-256, § 2(a), 42 DCR 20; June 8, 2001, D.C. Law 13-302, § 4(d), 47 DCR 7249; June 11, 2013, D.C. Law 19-317, § 303(a), 60 DCR 2064