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EvidenceProf Blog
Editor: Colin Miller

Cyntoia Brown & the “51-To-Life” Project: Rhode Island

By Colin Miller

This is the fortieth in a series of posts on the “51-To-Life” Project. In Tennessee, if a juvenile is convicted of first-degree murder, there are two sentencing options: (1) life without the possibility of parole; or (2) life with the possibility of parole, with that possibility only existing after the juvenile has been incarcerated for 51 years. In this post, I will explain why Rhode Island treats juvenile homicide offenders better than Tennessee.  

Rhode Island still technically allows for a sentence of life without parole for juvenile homicide offenders.That said, Rhode Island “has never sought a life-without-parole sentence for a juvenile.” Therefore, Rhode Island has constructively banned a sentence of life without parole for a juvenile homicide offender. As a result, Rhode Island treats juvenile homicide offenders better than Tennessee.

-CM