USA - Georgia. Governor Sonny Perdue signed legislation (SB 13) to expand sentencing options in murder cases.

Governor Sonny Perdue signed legislation (SB 13) to expand sentencing options in murder cases. Prosecutors will now have the option to seek sentences of life imprisonment without parole in non-death penalty cases. 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. Sen. Preston Smith (R-Rome) 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 also received strong support from prosecutors and courts across Georgia. (See also March 25).