ACLU: Life in prison for Maryland juveniles unconstitutional

BALTIMORE (AP) — Sentencing juveniles to life in prison in Maryland is unconstitutional because they don't have a meaningful chance at parole, the American Civil Liberties Union said in a lawsuit filed Wednesday.

Young offenders don't get the second chance to which they're constitutionally entitled because no juveniles sentenced to life have been granted early release in the past 20 years, according to the lawsuit filed against Republican Gov. Larry Hogan and several officials in his administration in U.S. District Court in Baltimore.

At his sentencing hearing, attorney James Johnston argued a life sentence with a chance for parole in Maryland effectively means a youthful offender will never be freed.

In January, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that prisoners sentenced to life in prison for crimes committed as teenagers must be allowed to argue for their release from prison.