The Supreme Court for the state of New Jersey, in an opinion released last week, just changed the way judges in the state will sentence most juvenile offenders. The opinion, which actually decided two criminal conviction sentencing appeals, centered on whether a juvenile should be sentenced to life without parole for a non-homicide related crime.

Agreeing With the US Supreme Court

Following the rational of a 2012 US Supreme Court decision basically prohibiting (as unconstitutional) life sentences for juveniles that hadn’t killed anyone, the high court in NJ ruled in favor of two violent criminals, who were both sentenced to “functional” life terms at the age of 17.

Juvenile Crime and Serious Time

While neither of the two convicts committed a murder themselves, there is no dispute as to the seriousness of their offenses. One was convicted of two gang rapes, while the other was convicted on multiple armed robbery charges (wherein an accomplice shot and killed a person during one robbery). Both were sentenced at the age of 17, and the soonest either would be eligible for parole wouldn’t be until after they reached 70 years old.

While some might find these sentences appropriate, factually, they are inconsistent with the norms of punishment. For instance, in some states, a murder charge would result in lesser punishment than either of the 17 year old convicts received for their lesser crimes. Even in New Jersey, a person convicted of first degree murder could face a sentence of only 30 years.

Related Resources:

  • Charged with a crime? Get your case reviewed for free now. (Consumer Injury - Criminal)
  • DOJ: Chicago PD Was Out of Control (FindLaw Blotter)
  • Supreme Court: Ban on Mandatory Juvenile Life Sentences Is Retroactive (FindLaw’s Decided)
  • Juvenile Probation: How Does It Work? (FindLaw Blotter)

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