Maine Revised Statutes

Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 17-A, § 1603 (2026)

Imprisonment for crime of murder

✓ current as of May 2026

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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.

[PL 2019, c. 113, Pt. A, §2 (NEW).]

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; [PL 2019, c. 113, Pt. A, §2 (NEW).]

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 [PL 2019, c. 113, Pt. A, §2 (NEW).]

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. [PL 2023, c. 465, §15 (AMD).]

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.

[PL 2023, c. 465, §15 (AMD).]

SECTION HISTORY

PL 2019, c. 113, Pt. A, §2 (NEW). PL 2021, c. 647, Pt. B, §34 (AMD). PL 2021, c. 647, Pt. B, §65 (AFF). PL 2023, c. 465, §15 (AMD).

Notes of Decisions

Cited in 8 cases (7 in the last 5 years), 2020–2025 · leading case: State of Maine v. Sharon Carrillo, 2021 ME 18 (Me. 2021).

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State of Maine v. Sharon Carrillo, 2021 ME 18 (Me. 2021). · cites it 2× “R.S. § 1251 (2017) has since been repealed and replaced, but the new sentencing statute contains the same requirements.”

State of Maine v. Noah Gaston, 2021 ME 25 (Me. 2021). “113, §§ A-1, A-2 (emergency, effective May 16, 2019) (codified at 17-A M.R.S. § 1603 (2021)); see State v. De St.”

State of Maine v. John De St. Croix, 2020 ME 142 (Me. 2020). “113, §§ A-1, A-2 (emergency, effective May 16, 2019) (codified at 17-A M.R.S. § 1603 (2020)); see State v. Hardy, 489 A.”

State of Maine v. Anthony S. Leng, 2021 ME 3 (Me. 2021). “§ 1251 (2018) was repealed and replaced by 17-A M.R.S. § 1603 (2020). P.L. 2019, ch.”

State of Maine v. F Daly, 2021 ME 37 (Me. 2021). “[¶43] “Because the extent of a judge’s discretion is so broad, and because the difficulty of the task makes it one that warrants precision and focus, the process used by the sentencing court to reach the sentence imposed must be 9 This sentencing statute has been repealed and…”

State of Maine v. Raymond N. Lester, 2025 ME 21 (Me. 2025). “17-A M.R.S. § 1603(1) (2024). In imposing a sentence for murder, the court undertakes a two-step analysis.”

Commonwealth v. Mattis (Mass. 2024). · cites it 2× “030 ; Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 17-A, § 1603; Md. Code Ann.”

State of Tennessee v. Tyshon Booker (Tenn. 2022). “effective on July 1, 2022) (25, 40, or 50 years, with discretion); Me. Rev. Stat. Ann. tit. 17-A, § 1603(1) (West, Westlaw through 2022 Second Reg.”

— Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 17-A, § 1603(1) — 4 cases

State of Maine v. Sharon Carrillo, 2021 ME 18 (Me. 2021). “R.S. § 1251 (2017) has since been repealed and replaced, but the new sentencing statute contains the same requirements.”

State of Maine v. F Daly, 2021 ME 37 (Me. 2021). “[¶43] “Because the extent of a judge’s discretion is so broad, and because the difficulty of the task makes it one that warrants precision and focus, the process used by the sentencing court to reach the sentence imposed must be 9 This sentencing statute has been repealed and…”

State of Maine v. Raymond N. Lester, 2025 ME 21 (Me. 2025). “17-A M.R.S. § 1603(1) (2024). In imposing a sentence for murder, the court undertakes a two-step analysis.”

State of Tennessee v. Tyshon Booker (Tenn. 2022). “effective on July 1, 2022) (25, 40, or 50 years, with discretion); Me. Rev. Stat. Ann. tit. 17-A, § 1603(1) (West, Westlaw through 2022 Second Reg.”

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