Justice for Murder Victims Act
Officially: “Justice for Murder Victims Act” Read the full text
What it does
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1Short title
This section would let the Act be called the Justice for Murder Victims Act.
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1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Justice for Murder Victims Act .
2Homicide offenses
This section would add a new section 1123 to chapter 51 of title 18, United States Code (the part of federal law covering homicide offenses). Under new section 1123(a), a person could be prosecuted for any homicide offense under title 18 no matter how much time passed between the act or omission that caused the victim's death and the death itself. Under new section 1123(b), this new rule would not override the statute of limitations in section 3282(a) of title 18, to whatever extent that statute of limitations already applies to the case. Under new section 1123(c), a death sentence could not be imposed for a homicide offense under title 18 unless the government proves beyond a reasonable doubt that no more than 1 year and 1 day elapsed between the act or omission that caused the victim's death and the death itself. This section would also add an entry for new section 1123 to the table of sections for chapter 51 of title 18. New section 1123(a) would apply only to an act or omission described in that section that occurs after this Act becomes law. Finally, this section would amend section 1111(b) of title 18, which sets the punishment for first-degree murder, to add that if the victim's death occurred more than 1 year and 1 day after the act or omission that caused it, the punishment for that offense would be imprisonment for a term of years or for life imprisonment, matching the same 1-year-and-1-day limit that new section 1123(c) sets for imposing a death sentence.
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2. Homicide offenses (a) In general Chapter 51 of title 18, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following: 1123. No maximum time period between act or omission and death of victim (a) In general A prosecution may be instituted for any homicide offense under this title without regard to the time that elapsed between— (1) the act or omission that caused the death of the victim; and (2) the death of the victim. (b) Relation to statute of limitations Nothing in subsection (a) shall be construed to supersede the limitations period under section 3282(a), to the extent applicable. (c) Maximum time period applicable if death penalty imposed A sentence of death may not be imposed for a homicide offense under this title unless the Government proves beyond a reasonable doubt that not more than 1 year and 1 day elapsed between— (1) the act or omission that caused the death of the victim; and (2) the death of the victim. . (b) Table of contents The table of sections for chapter 51 of title 18, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following: 1123. No maximum time period between act or omission and death of victim. . (c) Applicability Section 1123(a) of title 18, United States Code, as added by subsection (a), shall apply with respect to an act or omission described in that section that occurs after the date of enactment of this Act. (d) Maximum penalty for first-degree murder based on time period between act or omission and death of victim Section 1111(b) of title 18, United States Code, is amended by inserting after imprisonment for life the following: , unless the death of the victim occurred more than 1 year and 1 day after the act or omission that caused the death of the victim, in which case the punishment shall be imprisonment for any term of years or for life . Passed the Senate March 11 (legislative day, March 10), 2025. Secretary
Where it is
In the Senate.