Graham v. Florida

Graham v. Florida (2010) is a Supreme Court case that ruled sentencing juveniles to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole for non-homicide offenses is unconstitutional. The Court emphasized that juveniles have a greater capacity for change and rehabilitation, and such sentences violate the Eighth Amendment’s prohibition on cruel and unusual punishments. This decision requires states to give juveniles who commit non-homicide crimes a chance for review and potential release, recognizing the differences in maturity and responsibility between juveniles and adults.