Bill No. 36-0193 - An act amending titles 14 and 23 Virgin Islands Code regarding mandatory minimum sentences for certain weapons-related crimes and to allow for discretion
COMMITTEE ON HOMELAND SECURITY, JUSTICE AND PUBLIC SAFETY BILL NO. 36-0193 Thirty-Sixth Legislature of the Virgin Islands October 27, 2025 An act amending titles 14 and 23 Virgin Islands Code regarding mandatory minimum sentences for certain weapons-related crimes and to allow for discretion in sentencing for first-degree murder convictions, and for other related purposes PROPOSED BY: Senator Milton E. Potter, by Request of the Governor Be it enacted by the Legislature of the Virgin Islands: 1 SECTION 1. Title 14 Virgin Islands Code is amended as follows: 2 (a) chapter 113, section 2254 is stricken in its entirety; and 3 (b) chapter 45, section 923 is amended by striking the language in subsection (a) 4 and inserting the following new language: 5 “(a) Anyone who commits murder in the first degree is subject to 6 imprisonment of not less than 25 years and not more than life imprisonment without 7 parole. The duration of the sentence is determined by relevant aggravating factors 8 and mitigating circumstances. …
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COMMITTEE ON HOMELAND SECURITY, JUSTICE AND PUBLIC SAFETY BILL NO. 36-0193 Thirty-Sixth Legislature of the Virgin Islands October 27, 2025 An act amending titles 14 and 23 Virgin Islands Code regarding mandatory minimum sentences for certain weapons-related crimes and to allow for discretion in sentencing for first-degree murder convictions, and for other related purposes PROPOSED BY: Senator Milton E. Potter, by Request of the Governor Be it enacted by the Legislature of the Virgin Islands: 1 SECTION 1. Title 14 Virgin Islands Code is amended as follows: 2 (a) chapter 113, section 2254 is stricken in its entirety; and 3 (b) chapter 45, section 923 is amended by striking the language in subsection (a) 4 and inserting the following new language: 5 “(a) Anyone who commits murder in the first degree is subject to 6 imprisonment of not less than 25 years and not more than life imprisonment without 7 parole. The duration of the sentence is determined by relevant aggravating factors 8 and mitigating circumstances. A person convicted of first degree murder is not 9 eligible for parole or early release before serving not less than 25 years of 10 imprisonment.” 11 SECTION 2. Title 23 Virgin Islands Code, chapter 5, section 481 is amended by striking 12 the language in subsection (b) and inserting the following new language: 13 2 “(b) Unless authorized by law, anyone who, possesses, bears, transports or carries 1 any firearm as defined in section 54l(f) of this title, loaded or unloaded, with altered or 2 obliterated identification marks, whether openly or concealed, in a public place, 3 residential area, vehicle, or any location where people are gathered shall be sentenced to 4 imprisonment of not less than 15 years.” 5 BILL SUMMARY 6 This bill amends title 14 section 2254 and title 23 section 481 to remove certain 7 mandatory minimums and the possibility of parole. The bill also replaces the mandatory life 8 sentence without parole requirement under title 14 section 923 and allows for sentences to 9 range from 25 years to life without parole depending on the circumstances of the offense. 10 BR25-0632/October 24, 2025/PFA 11 G36-011 12