DETROIT (AP) — A newspaper reports more than half of Michigan inmates who are eligible for resentencing following a 2016 U.S. Supreme Court ruling on so-called juvenile lifers still are waiting to learn their fate.
The Detroit Free Press reports Thursday its analysis found nearly 200 inmates, or about 55% of those eligible, haven't gotten new sentencing hearings.
As of early July, the newspaper says 86 of the state's 354 juvenile lifers have been released.
Tina Olson, an attorney with the Michigan State Appellate Defender Office, says: "We are not resolving cases at the rate that you would hope, given that the United States Supreme Court said these sentences should be rare." Her office is representing roughly two-thirds of the state's cases.
Prosecutors defend the process and say they're thoughtfully weighing each case.
Other stories on 13 ON YOUR SIDE:
- Philadelphia gunman surrenders after wounding 6 officers
- Police chase ends in crash, 3 people hospitalized
- Michigan among 13 states suing Trump administration over public benefit immigration rule
- Surveillance camera records theft of exhibits from LST 393 museum
- Cascade Township approves Chick-fil-A at former Macaroni Grill location
►Make it easy to keep up to date with more stories like this. Download the 13 ON YOUR SIDE app now.
Have a news tip? Email news@13onyourside.com, visit our Facebook page or Twitter.