Criminal Matters – Juvenile Life Without Parole Restricted by US Supreme Court

Legal cases and criminal proceedings involving minors is always a delicate subject, particularly for experienced Michigan criminal defense lawyers. Under the Eighth Amendment preventing cruel and unusual punishment, as well as a 2005 U.S. Supreme Court decision, persons under the age of 18 are prohibited from receiving the death penalty. Since that point, the ruling just applied to the execution of minors, not necessarily the sentences for other violent crimes. However, earlier this week, the U.S. Supreme Court further expanded the scope of the decision, to prohibit life sentences behind bars for juveniles who have not committed homicide.

The state must allow minors a chance to rejoin society

In a closely split ruling, the Supreme Court stated that prohibiting non-murderous juveniles from ever rejoining society is not only unconstitutional under the Eighth Amendment, but it contradicts the efforts of both the national and “global” consensus. Writing for the majority was Justice Anthony M. Kennedy, who explained that states must allow minors who receive extensive prison sentences a “meaningful” chance to rejoin society at large. “By denying the defendant the right to re-enter the community, the state makes an irrevocable judgment about that person’s value and place in society. This judgment is not appropriate in light of a juvenile non-homicide offender’s capacity for change and limited moral culpability,” he wrote.

In the State of Michigan, while the vast majority of people serving time are adults, there are also a significant number of inmates who are minors. Currently, the state has approximately 350 individuals incarcerated on life sentences for crimes committed while they were younger than 17 years-old.

Although the exact effect the new ruling will have on these Michigan juvenile offenders, experts believe that the Supreme Court’s ruling was an important change in the correctional system, and will undoubtedly cause a wave of litigation. However, this is work Michigan criminal defense attorneys welcome, as they can assist juveniles incarcerated for life on non-homicidal crimes achieve a chance at release. Should this apply to you or a loved one, it is essential to be proactive in securing the best representation for your case–particularly as the new ruling gives such an argument a formidable defense. Contacting aggressive Michigan juvenile defense lawyers can not only ensure sound legal advice, but also help ensure that each juvenile is given a fair chance to obtain their freedom.

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