LANSING, Mich. (WJRT) - Bipartisan bills in the Michigan Legislature would ban sentences of life in prison with no chance of parole for juvenile offenders.
Democrat State Rep. Amos O'Neal of Saginaw introduced one of four bills in the Michigan House on Thursday to prohibit state courts of imposing a sentence of life in prison with no chance of parole for anyone under age 18.
A Republican and two Democrats introduced three other bills in the package Thursday. Two Democrats and two Republicans introduced four similar bills in the Michigan Senate in January.
The bills would allow judges to sentence juveniles age 17 or younger to a minimum sentence of 10 years and maximum of 60 years in prison. Juvenile offenders would be eligible for parole review in 10 years.
“‘Juvenile’ is really a legal term for ‘child,’” O’Neal said. “We are introducing these bipartisan bills to make sure that we give children the chance at redemption."
The U.S. Supreme Court issued a ruling in 2012 that declared life-without-parole sentences unconstitutional for juveniles a cruel and unusual punishment. Any juvenile offenders nationwide who received that sentence were granted a chance for parole review.
The Sentencing Project says 25 states and Washington, D.C., already have bans on life-without-parole sentences for juveniles.
O'Neal said the Michigan legislation is a response to changing attitudes toward criminal justice policies involving minors. Researchers have pointed to developmental differences between adults and juveniles related to judgment, impulse control and peer pressure.
"We all agree that criminals need to pay for their crimes, but locking up a child for the rest of their life with no chance for parole is simply immoral," O'Neal said.
The bills would have to pass both chambers of the Legislature before going to Gov. Gretchen Whitmer for her consideration.
