Answer :
The evolving standards of decency in the United States dictate a trend towards more lenient sentences for juveniles, including those involved in felony murder cases. One notable development in this context is the decreasing support for juvenile life without parole (JLWOP), signaling a shift in how the justice system views young offenders and their capacity for rehabilitation.
Recent legal precedents and psychological research suggest that juveniles are distinct from adults in terms of decision-making, impulse control, and moral understanding. This acknowledgment has led to the Supreme Court limiting the use of JLWOP, recognizing that juvenile offenders have greater potential for change than their adult counterparts. When applying these evolving standards to felony murder cases, there appears to be a greater impetus to reconsider life sentences without parole for juveniles, given the possibility of wrongful convictions and the belief in their capacity for reform. These considerations are in line with a majority viewpoint that leans towards alternative penalties to the death penalty, such as life imprisonment without parole when considering sentencing in capital cases.
