Court Likely Seals the Fate of Many Juvenile Lifers Capable of Rehabilitation

The U.S. Supreme Court issued a contentious decision Thursday in the case of Jones v. Mississippi that is a devastating blow to juvenile offenders across the country, who have been sentenced to die in prison but were hoping for a chance at redemption.

Brett Jones, who is serving a life without parole sentence, challenged a ruling by the Mississippi Court of Appeals after his plea for a sentence that would give him an opportunity for parole in the future was denied. Jones’ attorneys argued that the state was violating the constitution by not requiring trial courts to determine whether a juvenile, who committed a murder when he or she was under the age of 18, is permanently incorrigible before sentencing the juvenile to life without parole. The state only requires that the sentencing authority consider the juvenile’s potential for rehabilitation and other factors.

In a 6-3 vote, the court agreed with the state. Justice Brett Kavanaugh, who delivered the majority opinion, said the court’s decision only addresses the legal issue in the case and the majority has no opinion on whether it agrees with Jones' sentence. In a scathing dissenting opinion, Justice Sonia Sotomayor rebuked Kavanaugh’s ruling, which was a major departure from previous decisions by the high court dating back to 2005.

To find out more about Brett Jones' story and this issue, click on the following links:

www.mississippicir.org/news/mississippi-mans-case-could-affect-fate-of-hundreds-of-juvenile-lifers 

www.mississippicir.org/news/some-mississippi-courts-under-fire-for-dismissing-juvenile-lifers-potential-for-rehabilitation-8tsng

www.mississippicir.org/perspective/mississippi-us-fall-behind-in-treating-felony-juvenile-offenders