MI Supreme Court Holds Ban On Life Sentences for Juveniles

In April 2025, the Michigan Supreme Court affirmed that mandatory life sentences without parole for juveniles and adults under 21 was unconstitutional and disproportionate under the state’s Constitution. The ruling applies retroactively to people currently serving life sentences in Michigan, granting anyone who matches the requirements a chance to be resentenced. This milestone is one more in the long road Michigan has faced trying to adjust the sentencing of juveniles when facing long, harsh sentences behind bars.

This is a huge development, considering Michigan has one of the highest number of people serving life sentences without a chance for parole for crimes committed in childhood in the nation. 39 states have abolished life sentences without parole for minors.

A Quick History on the Battle Against Life Sentences for Juveniles

The journey to abolish life without parole (LWOP) sentences for juveniles has been shaped by evolving legal standards and a growing understanding of adolescent brain development.

In 2005, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in *Roper v. Simmons* that executing individuals for crimes committed as minors is unconstitutional. This was followed by Graham v. Florida in 2010, which prohibited LWOP for non-homicide offenses committed by juveniles. Then, in Miller v. Alabama (2012), the Court held that mandatory LWOP sentences for juveniles, even in homicide cases, violate the Eighth Amendment, emphasizing the need to consider the unique circumstances of each youth offender. This decision was made retroactive in Montgomery v. Louisiana (2016), allowing those previously sentenced to seek resentencing.

Despite these federal rulings, Michigan continued to impose mandatory LWOP sentences on juveniles. In a significant shift, the Michigan Supreme Court decided in People v. Parks (2022) that mandatory LWOP sentences for 18-year-olds violate the state’s constitution, recognizing that late adolescents share similar developmental characteristics with younger teens. This decision paved the way for further reforms. In April 2025, the Court extended these protections to individuals under 21 in People v. Taylor and People v. Czarnecki, ruling that mandatory LWOP sentences for 19- and 20-year-olds are also unconstitutional under Michigan law.

These landmark decisions reflect a growing consensus that young people, due to their capacity for change and rehabilitation, should not be subjected to the harshest penalties reserved for the most culpable adult offenders.

Why Did the Supreme Court Find LWOP Unconstitutional?

In ruling that children who commit very serious crimes should be treated differently than adults, the Supreme Court cited the following principles:

• Children’s brains aren’t fully developed. – Scientific studies have shown that children have less impulse control than adults, so they are less culpable than adults from a legal standpoint.
• Children cannot easily choose alternatives to crime. – An adult has the resources to get an education and a job. A child living in an unhealthy environment has basically no ability to better their circumstances.
• Children can’t negotiate the criminal justice system effectively. – Children often get the worst legal representation in their cases because unlike adults they often don’t have the financial ability to choose a good lawyer to defend them.
• Children have an exceptional capacity for rehabilitation. – The fact that children are impressionable often leads them to crime, but it can also make them particularly receptive to counseling and rehabilitation.

For these reasons, sentencing children in the same way as adults consist of cruel and unusual punishment, which is forbidden by the Sixth Amendment to the United States Constitution.

Who Led the Fight Against LWOP for Juveniles?

There are more than 360 inmates in Michigan who are serving life sentences without the possibility of parole for crimes they committed as children. Michigan prosecutors are fighting to keep around 250 of them behind bars indefinitely. That amounts to around 60 percent of the concerned inmates, when the Supreme Court ruled that life without parole should be reserved for the rarest cases.

Prosecutors and some judges may be resisting the release of these juvenile offenders because of the strain it puts on the criminal justice system. The resentencing process involves more than just a review of the inmate’s file and a hearing. Instead, attorneys and judges have to pour through mountains of documents to properly evaluate these cases and determine which ones are eligible for release.

The ACLU of Michigan’s Juvenile Life Without Parole initiative is fighting back. Their lawsuit aims to force Michigan prosecutors to follow the letter of the law. The Sentencing Project is another advocacy group seeking effective and humane responses to crime. They filed a lawsuit with the ACLU and the Juvenile Law Center to help seek justice for juveniles facing charges that could be punished with a life sentence.

What Should I Do if My Child is Charged with a Serious Crime?

Facing a criminal charge can be overwhelming as an adult, but what happens when your child is accused of a serious crime? Even if the Supreme Court’s ruling means they cannot be sentenced to life without parole, they could still face significant consequences that threaten their future.

Crimes that Could Earn a Life Sentence

In Michigan, being accused of committing a Class A felony could earn you a life in prison, if you are tried as an adult. That means murder of the first or second degree, kidnapping, assault with a lethal weapon with the intent to rob or steal, or first-degree criminal sexual behavior are generally treated as crimes that could earn you life in prison. Other Class B or less severe crimes still carry serious sentences, like a prison term up to 20 years.

What Should I Take After My Child is Arrested?

If your child has been accused of a high-level felony, you need to contact a Detroit criminal defense attorney as soon as you can. Getting an early start on their defense is crucial if you want them to avoid the worst outcome possible. A defense lawyer like Attorney Maurice Davis can investigate their arrest, examine the charges filed against them, and build a defense strategy that will guide your family towards the preferred outcome — dropped or reduced charges. Even with life without parole taken off of the table for children or adults up to 21 years old, there is still a need to call a skilled defense attorney who understands what’s at stake and the challenges your family is facing.

Davis Law Group is Here to Help

At Davis Law Group, we are passionate about social justice and providing our clients with the best defense possible when they face the criminal justice system. If you’ve been charged with a crime, call us today at (313) 818-3238 for a free and confidential case consultation.