Graham v. Florida

Summary

The Court held that the Eighth Amendment prohibits sentencing juvenile offenders to life without parole for nonhomicide crimes because juveniles have diminished culpability and life without parole is the second most severe penalty. The Court found national and international consensus against the practice and that penological justifications do not adequately support such sentences for nonhomicide offenders. The judgment of the Florida court of appeal was reversed. Justice Thomas dissented, arguing the Eighth Amendment does not prohibit such sentences. Chief Justice Roberts concurred in the judgment, applying a case-specific proportionality analysis. Justice Stevens concurred, emphasizing evolving standards of decency.