Mass State House Event for Bill S.2008
On May 14, 2014, the families of homicide victims Janet Downing, Beth Brodie, Amy Carnevale, Lewis Jennings, and Bonnie Sue Mitchell delivered their petitions (over 15,000 signatures combined) to Mass Governor Deval Patrick at the State House. These petitions are in response to the state’s Supreme Judicial Court ruling that juveniles convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life without parole are now retroactively eligible for parole after serving only 15 years.
On this day, Senator Bruce Tarr also presented Bill S.2008 to the Judiciary Committee. Bill S.2008 would require juveniles convicted of first-degree murder to serve a minimum of 35 years in prison, instead of the current 15 years minimum, before becoming eligible for parole. Bill S.2008 would also be applied retroactively. Each family bravely spoke before the committee at the hearing.
On this day, Senator Bruce Tarr also presented Bill S.2008 to the Judiciary Committee. Bill S.2008 would require juveniles convicted of first-degree murder to serve a minimum of 35 years in prison, instead of the current 15 years minimum, before becoming eligible for parole. Bill S.2008 would also be applied retroactively. Each family bravely spoke before the committee at the hearing.
