Sienna's Law to Take Effect July 1st

The memory of a Franklin County girl shot and killed by a 12-year-old classmate lives on courtesy of a new state law.
“Sienna’s Law” is named for 11 year old Sienna Owens, who died in 2015.
The law makes the punishment harsher for juveniles who are found guilty of first degree murder, second degree murder, voluntary manslaughter, criminally negligent homicide and reckless homicide. It would ensure juveniles would be committed to the Department of Children’s Services for at least a year, or until they turn 19 years old.
Sienna’s life was cut short when a classmate fired a 20-gauge shotgun and hit her in the back. She was rushed to the hospital but did not survive. The boy was found guilty in Juvenile Court of reckless homicide and placed in state custody, where his conduct and case was evaluated every 90 days. The boy’s mother was home when the shooting happened and she was also charged in connection to the investigation.
Sienna’s Law is one of 150 new laws that will go into effect on July 1.