Another Human Rights Victory In Washington State

Joining a minority of US jurisdictions, the Supreme Court of Washington ruled last week that sentencing of youthful offenders to life sentences without parole violates the US Constitution.   21 jurisdictions including states and the District of Columbia having ruled similarly and the present minority of states demanding that juveniles not have a minimum sentence of "life" look is growing.

The man in question murdered three members of his family when he was 15. The victims were his parents and 5 year old brother.   He obtained his GED and took courses through a community college while incarcerated.  But as a psychologist testified, the youthful brain fails to consider long term consequences of actions.

In 2012, the US Supreme Court ruled that sentencing juveniles to automatic life sentences was unconstitutional.  The Washington State legislature then passed a statute allowing youthful offenders to have their sentencing reviewed, but provided that life in prison was still an option.  That option is now struck by the Supreme Court.

 This opinion moves human rights forward in Washington State and comes shortly after the state's Supreme Court determined the state's death penalty was unconstitutional.