Juvenile Life Without Parole Sentence Commuted in California

Sara Kruzan, who was sentenced to life without parole in California for a crime committed at 16, just had her sentence commuted by Gov. Schwarzenegger to include the possibility of parole.  See Sara’s story in her own words:

Judges Forced to Revisit Juveniles’ Life Sentences

The Wall Street Journal recently (10/29/10)  featured an article on states’ responses to the Supreme Court’s decision in Graham v. Florida, which ruled life sentences without parole (LWOP) for juveniles to be unconstitutional for non-homicide cases.  Although a number of states are reviewing sentences that fit narrowly into this category, others are examining the larger issue of whether juveniles should ever be sentenced to LWOP.  Massachusetts currently has at least 57 people serving life without parole for crimes committed when they were under 18.

By NATHAN KOPPEL

Judges are grappling with whether it is ever proper to sentence a juvenile to life in prison without parole in light of a Supreme Court decision that such a punishment for non-murderers is cruel and unusual.