State v. Riley

Summary

The court held that a discretionary sentencing scheme permitting a juvenile homicide offender to receive the functional equivalent of life imprisonment without parole must require consideration of the offender's youth and its attendant characteristics as mitigating factors. Because the sentencing court did not adequately consider those factors before imposing the defendant's 100-year sentence, the court ordered a new sentencing proceeding. The court declined to decide whether the defendant was constitutionally entitled to a later opportunity for release based on demonstrated maturity and rehabilitation because that issue was not ripe.