Massachusetts declares lifetime parole for RSOs unconstitutional

The Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts declared lifetime parole for RSO’s unconstitutional, yesterday.

Lifetime parole “constitutes an impermissible delegation to the executive branch of the core judicial function of imposing sentences,” Justice Ralph D. Gants wrote for the majority. “A judicially imposed sentence is final and may not be modified by another branch.’’

In other words; only a judge can impose a criminal sentence, legislators cannot.

Attorneys for the registrants also argued that lifetime parole makes it impossible for people to reintegrate into society because they have to get permission before doing  many ordinary things like traveling or purchasing a cellphone. A technical violation brings long sentences of incarceration for non-criminal acts such as drinking alcohol.

You can read more here.