LANSING, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – A Michigan Supreme Court decision in July of 2022, People v. Taylor, continues to bring heartache to the families of murder victims across the state. The high court decision held that sentencing courts have to consider how youth, which they describe as individuals up to the age of 19, are constitutionally different than adult offenders because of what the court called “diminished culpability and increased prospects for reform.”

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The decision was in response to Miller v. Alabama, a case that went to the U.S. Supreme Court a decade ago, which struck down mandatory life without parole sentences for children under 18.

The Michigan Supreme Court decided in a 4-3 opinion that automatic life sentences for 18-year-old offenders convicted of first-degree murder are unconstitutional. Four justices wrote in an opinion, “We hold that mandatorily subjecting 18-year-old defendants convicted of first-degree murder to a sentence of life without parole violates the principle of proportionality derived from the Michigan Constitution…and thus constitutes unconstitutionally cruel punishment.”

The three dissenting judges said at the time, “Rather than playing amateur scientists, I believe that the judiciary should focus on interpreting and applying the law…I believe that we should respect the Legislature’s constitutional choice of penalty rather than impose our own.”

Because of the law, a judge has to hold a hearing where defense lawyers for the convicted murderer can present mitigating evidence including family decision-making skills, education and other factors.

Because of this ruling, according to WILX-10, a judge in Lansing heard statements Monday that could help in the immediate resentencing of prisoners serving life without parole. Crystal Grigonis was there for her step-brother, Edward, who was stabbed to death in 2000 by 18-year-old Terrance Taylor. Originally, the Grigonis family was told that Taylor would serve life in prison. However, two weeks ago, without notice, she said they were told Taylor could be released. She talked about what a nightmare it’s been the past two weeks and that she’s missed work. “I’m miserable,” she said.

Ingham County Prosecutor John Dewane, who took over for retired prosecutor Carol Siemon last year, said in a statement, “Consultation with surviving families is paramount to making an informed decision on each case. Moving forward, families will be consulted as required by the Crime Victims’ Rights Act.”

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Dewane also said, “This office is not opposed to life sentences for first-degree murder. We respect the court’s decision that automatic life sentences are unconstitutional for 18-year-old offenders and believe a case-by-case analysis under the factors the court set forth is appropriate.”

The Grigonis family members aren’t the only ones hurting and feeling betrayed. Convicted murderer Alex Smith also received a resentencing hearing in Ingham County on Monday, and there are three more reported resentencing hearings pending.

In Holland,  22-year-old convicted murderer, Juan Cabrera, who is serving a life sentence for killing a 14-year-old boy in 2019 when Cabrera was 18-years-old, is going to get a resentencing hearing as well. Cabrera was also convicted of felony firearms and gang membership charges.

The current resentencing hearings aren’t good enough for some Michigan lawmakers, however, As previously reported by Michigan News Source, legislators in Michigan want to get rid of life without parole for juveniles entirely and focus on a rehabilitation strategy. Their introduced legislation would end the possibility of life without parole for juvenile offenders under 19-years-old and instead give them a minimum sentence of not less than ten years and a maximum sentence of no more than 60 years – with a parole review after ten years.