DA urges higher parole standard for murder by juvenile

BOSTON ? Essex District Attorney Jonathan Blodgett urged legislators to “restore some measure of justice for murder victim’s families,” and increase the time a juvenile convicted of first-degree murder must serve before becoming eligible for parole from 15 to 35 years.?The families of the victims of the 63 convicts currently serving life without parole for a murder (the convict) committed when they were a juvenile must now face the possibility that their loved one’s killer could walk the streets again,” Blodgett said in a press release. “In my mind, this is unconscionable.”The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court recently ruled that juveniles may not be sentenced to life without parole as this violates Article 26 of the Massachusetts Constitution, which protects against cruel and unusual punishment.Blodgett, who is the president of the Massachusetts District Attorneys Association, testified before the Joint Committee on the Judiciary Wednesday on legislation that increases the parole eligibility of juveniles who have been convicted of first-degree murder from 15 to 35 years.He said that district attorneys understand juveniles are to be treated differently under the law in most cases, which is why diversion programs are offered to youthful offenders.?However, there are some acts that are so heinous that the perpetrator forfeits their opportunity for a second chance,” Blodgett said, according to the press release. “First degree murder is such an act.”Blodgett said that, while not ideal, increasing parole eligibility to the 35 years balances the court’s concern that juveniles should be given the opportunity to reform themselves and the grave nature of the crime and its impact on the families of victims.?The criminal justice system can only offer limited solace to families of the victims who are murdered,” Blodgett said. “Nothing can be done to return their loved one. No one can give back the weddings, graduations, birthdays and other milestones of life that have been torn away from them by a cold-blooded, premeditated cruel murder.”