Changing Juvenile Justice Policy in Response to the US Supreme Court: Implementing Miller v. Alabama

In the case of Miller v. Alabama, the US Supreme Court held that mandatory life without parole sentences for juveniles constituted a violation of the Eighth Amendment provision against cruel and unusual punishment. This case, along with other recently decided cases, appears to mark a shift in policy away from adultification of juveniles and toward a more rehabilitative philosophy. This article contains an analysis of three Supreme Court holdings, a review of Supreme Court rationale in reaching these decisions, and an analysis of the legislative changes that have occurred since Miller was decided.