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New York Consolidated Laws, Penal Law - PEN § 70.05 Sentence of imprisonment for juvenile offender

Current as of January 01, 2026 | Updated by Findlaw Staff

1. Indeterminate sentence.  A sentence of imprisonment for a felony committed by a juvenile offender shall be an indeterminate sentence.  When such a sentence is imposed, the court shall impose a maximum term in accordance with the provisions of subdivision two of this section and the minimum period of imprisonment shall be as provided in subdivision three of this section.  The court shall further provide that where a juvenile offender is under placement pursuant to article three of the family court act, any sentence imposed pursuant to this section which is to be served consecutively with such placement shall be served in a facility designated pursuant to subdivision four of section 70.20 of this article prior to service of the placement in any previously designated facility.

2. Maximum term of sentence.  The maximum term of an indeterminate sentence for a juvenile offender shall be at least three years and the term shall be fixed as follows:

(a) For the class A felony of murder in the second degree, the term shall be life imprisonment;

(b) For the class A felony of arson in the first degree, or for the class A felony of kidnapping in the first degree the term shall be fixed by the court, and shall be at least twelve years but shall not exceed fifteen years;

(c) For a class B felony, the term shall be fixed by the court, and shall not exceed ten years;

(d) For a class C felony, the term shall be fixed by the court, and shall not exceed seven years;  and

(e) For a class D felony, the term shall be fixed by the court and shall not exceed four years.

3. Minimum period of imprisonment.  The minimum period of imprisonment under an indeterminate sentence for a juvenile offender shall be specified in the sentence as follows:

(a) For the class A felony of murder in the second degree, the minimum period of imprisonment shall be fixed by the court and shall be not less than five years but shall not exceed nine years provided, however, that where the sentence is for an offense specified in subdivision one or two of section 125.25 of this chapter and the defendant was fourteen or fifteen years old at the time of such offense, the minimum period of imprisonment shall be not less than seven and one-half years but shall not exceed fifteen years;

(b) For the class A felony of arson in the first degree, or for the class A felony of kidnapping in the first degree, the minimum period of imprisonment shall be fixed by the court and shall be not less than four years but shall not exceed six years;  and

(c) For a class B, C or D felony, the minimum period of imprisonment shall be fixed by the court at one-third of the maximum term imposed.

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Cite this article: FindLaw.com - New York Consolidated Laws, Penal Law - PEN § 70.05 Sentence of imprisonment for juvenile offender - last updated January 01, 2026 | https://codes.findlaw.com/ny/penal-law/pen-sect-70-05/

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