A federal appeals court says Michigan still has not fixed problems with itsjuvenile lifer law that was declared unconstitutional four years ago.
The US Supreme Court struck down sentences of automatic life without parole for juveniles as cruel and unusual punishment. But a group of lifers sentenced as juveniles say the state is dragging its feet, and still won’t give them a meaningful chance at parole. “It’s unconstitutional to do this to youth. It’s akin to a death sentence,” says attorney Deborah LaBelle.
There are more than 350 juvenile lifers in Michigan prisons. LaBelle says six have died since the Supreme Court ruling. The ruling from the Sixth Circuit US Court of Appeals says a law adopted by the Legislature still falls short of what’s required to comply with the decision. The case was sent back to a federal judge in Detroit.
Michigan Attorney General BillSchuette’s office says the decision is being reviewed.
Like 89.1 WEMU on Facebook and follow us on Twitter
— Rick Pluta is the Managing Editor and Reporter for the Michigan Public Radio network. Contact WEMU News at734.487.3363 or email us at studio@wemu.org