Dozens of Mass. convicted murderers have been granted parole, sparking backlash from prosecutors

"In January 2024, the Supreme Judicial Court decided that adults who were convicted of crimes while they were under the age of 21 cannot be sentenced to life in prison without parole. Prior to the ruling, Massachusetts was one of only 10 states that required first-degree murderers aged 18 through 20 to receive this sentence. The court justices cited scientific and legal evidence in their decision, including that adults under 21 cannot carry a firearm, buy alcohol, or become a police officer."

""These complex cases require careful deliberation to protect public safety, ensure the voices of victims and survivors are heard, and evaluate an incarcerated individual's rehabilitation and readiness for supervised release," a Massachusetts Parole Board spokesperson said in a statement obtained by the Herald. "Guided by legal standards, established criteria, and best practices, the Board makes decisions that reflect accountability, rehabilitation, and public safety.""

"At the time of the decision, the Suffolk County District Attorney's Office identified approximately 70 inmates who would become eligible to apply for parole. Since then, the state parole board has approved the release of 39 individuals who were convicted either of first-degree murder or accessory to murder on the grounds that they were emerging adults when they were sentenced, according to the Boston Herald."

A January 2024 Supreme Judicial Court ruling prohibited life-without-parole sentences for people convicted while under age 21. The justices cited scientific and legal evidence about emerging-adult brain development and noted limitations on adults under 21 such as firearms possession and alcohol purchase. The ruling affects dozens of inmates statewide; the Suffolk County District Attorney identified about 70 potential applicants. The Parole Board has approved release for 39 individuals convicted of first-degree murder or accessory to murder, denied parole to 12 applicants, and must issue many more decisions as over 200 people are eligible statewide. The Board cited public safety, victim voices, and rehabilitation standards in its deliberations.

Read at Boston.com