Maine statute
17-A M.R.S. § 1603 — Imprisonment for crime of murder
Current through First Special Session of the 132nd Maine Legislature (current through October 1, 2025)
Part of Chapter 63: Sentences of Imprisonment, Maine Revised Statutes.
Full text of 17-A M.R.S. § 1603
Statutory text current through the First Special Session of the 132nd Maine Legislature (current through October 1, 2025). This publication reproduces the statutory text of the Maine Revised Statutes from the Revisor of Statutes' official published files; it is not the official statutes of the State of Maine and has not been certified by the Secretary of State.
1. Sentence. A person convicted of the crime of murder must be sentenced to imprisonment for life or for any term of years that is not less than 25. The sentence of the court must specify the length of the sentence to be served and must commit the person to the Department of Corrections.
2. Factors of domestic violence or victim's age or pregnancy. In setting a term of imprisonment pursuant to subsection 1, the court shall assign special weight to each of the following 3 factors as they relate to the sentencing procedure in section 1602, subsection 2:
A. That the victim is a child who had not in fact attained 6 years of age at the time the crime was committed;
B. That the victim is a woman whom the convicted individual knew or had reasonable cause to believe to be in fact pregnant at the time the crime was committed; and
C. That the victim is a family or household member as defined in Title 19-A, section 4102, subsection 6, paragraphs A to E or a dating partner as defined in Title 19-A, section 4102, subsection 4 who is a victim of domestic violence committed by the convicted individual.
This subsection may not be construed to restrict a court in setting a term of imprisonment from considering the age of the victim in other circumstances when relevant.
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This reference is informational and is not legal advice.