Erik and Lyle Menendez are eligible for parole after their sentences were reduced to 50 years to life. They have spent 35 years in prison following a life-without-parole sentence. This eligibility stems from their age at the time of the crime and the shifting perspective of the state board towards youthful offenders, particularly those linked to trauma. Experts note that the board now emphasizes rehabilitation and an understanding of juvenile brain development, resulting in more leniency for parole candidates, which could impact the Menendez brothers' case significantly.
Katie Tinto, a UC Irvine law professor, noted that there is a growing trend of individuals being released on parole, emphasizing the understanding of trauma, juvenile brain development, and adolescent risk-taking as key factors informing this shift.
Laurie Levenson from Loyola Law School observed that the parole board has adopted a more holistic approach, focusing not just on the crime but on the individuals’ backgrounds and their rehabilitation journey.
Levenson added that how much responsibility a candidate has acknowledged carries significant weight with the parole board, stating that an apology holds more influence than extensive legal arguments.
Levenson also mentioned that while new evidence might make a compelling narrative for documentaries, it may not resonate with the parole commission, which is more interested in the current character of the defendants.
Collection
[
|
...
]