SB552

Senate Bill 552 creates a new criminal offense in Arkansas called 'capital rape.' The bill defines this offense as occurring when sexual intercourse or deviate sexual activity involves a victim younger than 14 or 17 years old under specific violent, coercive, or aggravated circumstances, including repeat offenses. For defendants aged 18 and older, the penalty for capital rape is either death or life imprisonment without the possibility of parole. For offenders under the age of 18, the bill mandates life imprisonment with parole eligibility after serving a minimum of 30 years, subject to specific review criteria. The legislation also eliminates the statute of limitations for prosecuting capital rape and allows for separate convictions and sentences for both capital rape and any underlying felony associated with the crime. Furthermore, the bill updates sentencing guidelines for attempts, solicitations, and conspiracies related to capital rape.