help_outline Skip to main content

News / Articles

The Supreme Court calls a halt to its progress on juvenile sentencing

The Washington Post | Published on 4/29/2021
To read the full article, visit:  https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/the-supreme-court-calls-a-halt-to-its-progress-on-juvenile-sentencing/2021/04/24/56c9f034-a44c-11eb-a774-7b47ceb36ee8_story.html


To read the Supreme Court's opinion in Jones v. Mississippi, visit: 

https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/20pdf/18-1259_8njq.pdf



For further reading on the subject:

The Supreme Court is wrong. Even children who kill don't deserve life without parole.
These sentences ignore brain research and are tainted by racial bias. Until last week's opinion, the court was headed toward closing the door on them.

https://www.freep.com/story/opinion/policing/2021/04/26/supreme-court-end-life-without-parole-children-column/7374361002/



After Supreme Court Decision, A Former Juvenile Lifer On What A 2nd Chance Meant
“The Supreme Court just made it easier for judges to sentence kids to life in prison without the possibility of parole. In a 6-3 ruling, the justices reversed earlier precedents that favored more leniency for minors. [NPR talks . . . with someone who has firsthand experience with this. John Pace was sentenced to life in prison without parole when he was 17 years old.”

https://www.npr.org/2021/04/22/989938892/after-supreme-court-decision-a-former-juvenile-lifer-on-what-a-second-chance-mea 

Juvenile defenders: Look for an announcement soon on the JDRC website about an upcoming May CLE on what Jones v. Mississippi means for Illinois juvenile defenders.