Legal Definitions - Graham v. Florida (2010)

Graham v. Florida (2010) is a case that went to the U.S. Supreme Court. The Court had to decide if it was okay to sentence a minor to life in prison without the possibility of parole for a non-homicide crime.

For example, in this case, Terrance Graham was on probation for crimes he committed when he was 16. When he was 17, he and two other people committed a home invasion robbery. One of the people was shot, and Graham left him at the hospital and tried to run away from the police. He was caught and sentenced to life in prison with no chance of parole.

Graham argued that this sentence was cruel and unusual punishment, which is not allowed by the Eighth Amendment. The Supreme Court agreed with him. They said that sentencing a minor to life in prison for a non-homicide crime was not fair. Juveniles are not as mature as adults and may not understand the consequences of their actions. The Court said that this kind of sentence did not help the offender become a better person.

So, the Court reversed Graham's sentence and sent the case back to the lower court for more proceedings.