(AP) – The Arkansas Parole Board is halting action under the
state’s new law that eliminates mandatory life-without-parole sentences for
juveniles after a judge said it’s unconstitutional.A new law that took effect in March made juvenile life-without-parole inmates
eligible for release after serving 25 years for first-degree murder or 30 years
for capital murder. The parole board would determine eligibility, but it has
stopped action following the June ruling by Pulaski County Circuit Judge Wendell
Griffen. Griffen said the new fixed terms prevent individualized sentencing, and
ordered a sentencing hearing for Brandon Hardman, convicted of capital murder
for a shooting committed when he was 16.
state’s new law that eliminates mandatory life-without-parole sentences for
juveniles after a judge said it’s unconstitutional.A new law that took effect in March made juvenile life-without-parole inmates
eligible for release after serving 25 years for first-degree murder or 30 years
for capital murder. The parole board would determine eligibility, but it has
stopped action following the June ruling by Pulaski County Circuit Judge Wendell
Griffen. Griffen said the new fixed terms prevent individualized sentencing, and
ordered a sentencing hearing for Brandon Hardman, convicted of capital murder
for a shooting committed when he was 16.
The U.S. Supreme Court has said mandatory no-parole terms are unconstitutional
for juvenile offenders. The Department of Correction says there are about 41
so-called juvenile lifers in state prisons.
WebReadyTM Powered by WireReady® NSI