KALAMAZOO (WKZO-AM) — Kalamazoo County’s Office of the Prosecuting Attorney is reviewing eight cases where children were sentenced to life in prison without parole.
A 2012 U.S. Supreme Court ruling prohibited automatic life terms for juveniles. A verdict last week from the high court made that ruling retroactive.
Now, prosecutor Jeff Getting is trying to figure out what that means for inmates in lock-ups who were sentenced when they were children. He’s already talking about the possibilities with the families of victims.
“We’ll evaluate each one of those cases, have a discussion with each one of those families and then make a determination on whether we’ll seek a life-without-parole sentence,” Getting said.
If life isn’t being sought, a favorable re-sentencing could give convicts who have been behind bars for decades an opportunity at parole.
The county is reviewing a total of 10 cases. Two reviews have already been finished.
The ruling affects about 350 cases in Michigan, Getting said.
– Anthony Pollreisz
