West Virginia legislation · 2026 Regular Session
West Virginia HB4761: Raise the Penalties for Murder and attempted Murder
Status: Introduced, January 22, 2026
What the bill says
To amend and reenact §61-2-3, §61-11-8, and §62-12-13 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating to parole eligibility; modifying eligibility for the crimes of murder in the second degree, modifying the parole eligibility for inmates serving life sentences and those who have been convicted of first degree murder; and modifying eligibility for attempted crimes of murder in the first and second degree; and permitting the prosecutor and the victim's families to attend the parole hearings remotely or in person. chapter 61. crimes and their punishments. ARTICLE 2. CRIMES AGAINS.
From the introduced text, January 22, 2026:
A BILL to amend and reenact §61-2-3, §61-11-8, and §62-12-13 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating to parole eligibility; modifying eligibility for the crimes of murder in the second degree, modifying the parole eligibility for inmates serving life sentences and those who have been convicted of first degree murder; and modifying eligibility for attempted crimes of murder in the first and second degree; and permitting the prosecutor and the victim's families to attend the parole hearings remotely or in person. chapter 61. crimes and their punishments. ARTICLE 2. CRIMES AGAINST THE PERSON. §61-2-3. Penalty for murder of second degree. Murder of the second degree shall be punished by a definite term of imprisonment in the penitentiary which is not less than ten 20 nor more than forty 40 years. A person imprisoned pursuant to the provisions of this section is not eligible for parole prior to having served a minimum of ten 20 years of his or her sentence or the minimum period required by the provisions of §62-12-13 of this code, whichever is greater. ARTICLE 11. GENERAL PROVISIONS CONCERNING CRIMES §61-11-8. Attempts; classification and penalties therefor. Every person who attempts to commit an offense, but fails to commit or is prevented from committing it, shall, where it is not otherwise provided, be punished as follows: …