Violent habitual offender; require jury determination.

SB 2340 changes Mississippi's sentencing for violent habitual offenders by requiring a jury, rather than a judge, to decide if life imprisonment without parole is appropriate. It applies to individuals convicted of a felony who have two prior felony convictions (one being a crime of violence) and served at least one year in prison for each prior offense. The bill mandates a separate sentencing hearing where the jury must consider specific aggravating factors (like prior prison sentences or heinous conduct) and mitigating factors (such as mental health or the defendant's age), and must unanimously agree that aggravating factors outweigh mitigating ones to impose life imprisonment. If the jury does not approve life, the court sentences to the maximum term for the current felony.