Michigan Attorney General to Appeal Order Giving Juvenile Lifers Chance for Parole
December 2, 2013
By Gary Gately
JJIE
Michigan’s attorney general announced Monday that he will appeal a federal judge’s order requiring the state to consider paroling about 350 prisoners serving life sentences without parole for crimes they committed as juveniles.
“First-degree murder is a serious crime, and it carries with it serious consequences,” AG Bill Schuette said in a news release.
“In every case where a juvenile is sentenced to life in prison, a victim was already sentenced to death – forever. The victim’s family then grapples with the aftermath of post-traumatic stress, depression, unyielding grief and visits to a grave.”
He said last week’s order would force families of murder victims to “relive the crime that took their loved ones away.”