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Effective coverage of Iowa's challenges operationalizing Graham ruling

By Douglas A. Berman

The Iowa Independent has this really interesting new piece headlined "Iowa courts struggling with application of U.S. Supreme Court ruling; Family of man convicted in 1994 when he was 17 hope federal decision can lead to parole." (Hat tip: How Appealing.)  Here are snippets: In 1994, when [Jason] Means and five additional teens were found guilty of crimes in connection with [Michelle] Jensen?s death, both sides believed most of the legal uncertainty was behind them.  Means, then 17, was found guilty of first degree kidnapping, first degree robbery, second degree murder, criminal gang participation, conspiracy to commit robbery and unauthorized possession of an offensive weapon.  In Iowa, a conviction on the kidnapping charge alone mandated a prison sentence of life without parole...continue to full post

Full post as published by Sentencing Law and Policy on March 08, 2011 (boomark / email).