Kansas forbids the execution of the mentally retarded...

Kansas forbids the execution of the mentally retarded and juvenile offenders. The state does not have life without parole. A jury decides the sentence. The Governor has the sole authority to commute a death sentence to a term of life without parole. Kansas did not reinstate the death penalty until 1994. A bill to abolish the death penalty, and other bills to change the process of death sentencing were all defeated. On 3 May, Kansas did pass legislation providing for slight changes in the execution process. The bill creates a Hard 50 prison sentence for capital murder or for first-degree murder, replacing the Hard 40 sentence. Under the bill, a person must serve 50 years before being considered for release. The bill also increases the length of time before parole consideration for a life sentence for felony murder, from 15 to 20 years. Also, under the bill, those convicted of second-degree murder must serve from 15.3 years to 68 years in prison, depending on their criminal history. Currently, someone convicted of second-degree murder can be eligible for parole after 10 years. The bill also changes procedures for carrying out the death penalty. It requires the Supreme Court, which would issue the death warrant, to designate the week an execution would occur, rather than a specific day. No executions are likely in the near future.