The Pennsylvania Supreme Court is considering whether the state's felony murder law, which mandates life without parole for individuals convicted of murder if a death occurs during another felony, violates the state constitution's ban on cruel punishments.
Over 1,000 people in Pennsylvania are serving life without parole for murder even though they didn’t kill anyone. That could change based on a case heard last week by the state’s highest court. The case centers around Pennsylvania ’s felony murder law, which mandates life without parole for individuals convicted of murder if a death occurs during the commission of another felony, like robbery or burglary.
Critics argue that this law unfairly punishes people who may have been involved in a crime where someone died but did not directly cause the death. For example, some individuals are serving life sentences because they were in getaway cars while co-defendants robbed gas stations or convenience stores, only to learn later that an accomplice had taken a life. Another was ordered by a co-defendant to shoot a drug dealer but refused. Pennsylvania law defines felony murder broadly, stating that if a person died while the defendant was committing another felony, like robbery or burglary, they can be charged with murder. Felony murder does not require that the defendant directly caused a person’s death or had an intent to kill, yet Pennsylvania law mandates life without parole for these convictions. Judges in the state have no choice but to send people convicted under the felony-murder doctrine to prison for the rest of their lives. Now, a legal challenge asks the Pennsylvania Supreme Court to declare that requiring lifetime imprisonment for people convicted of felony murder violates the state constitution’s ban on cruel punishments. During oral arguments last week, justices grappled with the ethical implications of the law. “The cruelty aspect is the lack of hope,” Justice Daniel D. McCaffery added. “There’s literally zero opportunity regardless of how they’ve rehabilitated themselves over the course of their terms of incarceration.” The bulk of the roughly 70-minute argument focused on the logistics of resentencing the people who would be affected if the court decides that the sentencing practice is unconstitutional
Felony Murder Pennsylvania Supreme Court Life Without Parole Cruel Punishments
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Pennsylvania Supreme Court Overturns Impeachment Attempt Against Philadelphia DA Larry KrasnerThe Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruled Thursday that lawmakers who attempted to impeach Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner improperly tried to extend the impeachment process across two legislative sessions. The decision is a victory for Krasner, a Democrat, after he was impeached by the Republican-controlled House of Representatives in 2022.
Read more »
Pennsylvania Supreme Court Overturns Impeachment of Philadelphia DA Larry KrasnerThe Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruled Thursday that state lawmakers improperly tried to stretch the impeachment process across two legislative sessions, overturning the impeachment of Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner.
Read more »
Illinois Supreme Court hears Jussie Smollett appealThe Illinois Supreme Court has agreed to hear an appeal from actor Jussie Smollett after a ruling upheld his Cook County conviction for lying about an alleged hate crime, court records show.
Read more »
Illinois Supreme Court hears appeal in Jussie Smollett caseIn Springfield Tuesday, the attorney for former “Empire” actor Jussie Smollett asked justices to reverse his client’s 2021 disorderly conduct conviction.
Read more »
Illinois Supreme Court hears appeal in Jussie Smollett caseIn Springfield Tuesday, the attorney for former “Empire” actor Jussie Smollett asked justices to reverse his client’s 2021 disorderly conduct conviction.
Read more »
Illinois Supreme Court hears appeal in Jussie Smollett caseIn Springfield Tuesday, the attorney for former “Empire” actor Jussie Smollett asked justices to reverse his client’s 2021 disorderly conduct conviction.
Read more »