Public Perceptions of Juvenile Life Without Parole and Alternative Sentences: A Michigan Based Sample

Since the Supreme Court ruling in Miller banning mandatory juvenile life without parole (JLWOP) sentences, many states have gone one step further and completely eliminated JLWOP sentences. However, this trend has stagnated. One potential reason is society’s “tough on crime” framework, which legislat...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Birnbaum, Aliya (Author)
Contributors: Murillo, Miguel 1953- ; Daftary-Kapur, Tarika
Format: Electronic Article
Language:English
Published: 2024
In: Crime & delinquency
Year: 2024, Volume: 70, Issue: 10, Pages: 2595-2621
Online Access: Volltext (lizenzpflichtig)
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Keywords:
Adolescent
Public Opinion
Sentencing
juvenile lifers
Description
Summary:Since the Supreme Court ruling in Miller banning mandatory juvenile life without parole (JLWOP) sentences, many states have gone one step further and completely eliminated JLWOP sentences. However, this trend has stagnated. One potential reason is society’s “tough on crime” framework, which legislators are hesitant to deviate from. To understand public opinion on adolescent adolescent development and sentencing of youth, we surveyed residents in one state considering legislation that would ban JLWOP and similar sentences, Michigan. Most participants had sufficient understanding of adolescent development and viewed adolescents as having the capacity for change. Additionally, most participants supported alternative sentences to JLWOP, with support primarily given to sentences that were rehabilitative in nature. Our results can help policymakers better understand their constituents’ beliefs regarding adolescent sentencing, which can inform policy decisions.
ISSN:1552-387X
DOI:10.1177/00111287231174412