Idaho Governor Brad Little has signed House Bill 380 into law, authorizing the death penalty for those convicted of certain sex crimes against children under 12. The bill allows prosecutors to pursue capital punishment in cases involving aggravated sexual battery and lewd conduct.
KTVB7
Governor Brad Little on Friday signed House Bill 380 into law, making Idaho one of the few states permitting the death penalty for convicted child sex offenders. The legislation allows capital punishment in cases involving aggravated sexual battery and lewd conduct with children under 12.
Supporters argue the law strengthens protections for Idaho’s most vulnerable, though opponents question its constitutionality. The bill’s sponsor, Rep. Bruce Skaug, R-Nampa, said the law sends a strong message: “We are going to stand up for children and protect them with the strongest tools possible.”
The law will take effect on July 1. It mirrors similar efforts in Florida, where Governor Ron DeSantis signed a comparable bill last year. The U.S. Supreme Court’s 2008 Kennedy v. Louisiana ruling prohibits the death penalty for crimes that do not involve murder, which could set up legal challenges.
The ACLU of Idaho has voiced concern, calling the law “unconstitutional and extreme.”