Nebraska must re-write juvenile sentencing law

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by Jack Bowe

Story Created: Feb 22, 2013 at 5:34 PM CDT

Story Updated: Feb 22, 2013 at 6:27 PM CDT

The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that juvenile murderers cannot be sentenced to life without parole.

Now the Nebraska legislature needs to re-write its minimum sentencing law to reflect that ruling, but the question is what should be the minimum sentence.

The state's county attorney's association wants 60 years, one state senator has proposed 20 years and the judiciary committee has advanced a bill recommending 30 years.

The minimum sentence will now be debated on the senate floor.

If the bill passed with a 20-year minimum, a juvenile convicted of first degree murder could be paroled after 15 years.

Currently there are 27 juveniles serving life without parole.

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