The Supreme Court ruled that mandatory life sentences without parole for juvenile offenders is unconstitutional, violating the Eighth Amendment's ban on cruel and unusual punishment. The majority found juveniles have less culpability due to their immaturity and impulsivity, and such sentences preclude consideration of mitigating factors. Pennsylvania has the most prisoners serving this sentence for juvenile crimes, including one who is now 75 years old after being incarcerated since age 15. The legislature must now reconsider how to handle these cases in light of youth characteristics and the crime. This ruling could lead Pennsylvania to generally reexamine penalties that have become excessively long over the years.

1. We applaud the Supreme Court’s ruling that puts an end to the mandatory sentencing
of juvenile offenders to life without possibility of parole. The sentence violates the
Eight Amendment to the Constitution which prohibits cruel and unusual punishments,
according to a majority of the high court.
The majority opinion notes that punishment of crime should be “graduated and
proportional.” The 5-4 ruling was based on the lesser degree of culpability of juveniles
and the nature of the sentence which precludes consideration of mitigating factors.
Pennsylvania has more prisoners serving this sentence for crimes committed as
juveniles than any other state – some 480, including one who is now 75 years old and
has been incarcerated since he was 15. The legislature will now have to consider how to
handle these cases in a way that takes into account the immaturity and impulsivity of
youth as well as the crime itself.
This ought to open the door to a general reconsideration of criminal penalties which
have grown progressively excessive over the years. A recent Pew study showed that
Pennsylvania ranks second in terms of the average length of confinement of its
prisoners.