Final answer:
The Miller v. Alabama (2012) Supreme Court decision ruled mandatory life imprisonment without parole for juveniles unconstitutional, taking into account the Eighth Amendment and recognizing the need for individualized sentencing based on characteristics unique to juvenile offenders.
Step-by-step explanation:
The case of Miller v. Alabama is a significant legal decision by the United States Supreme Court. In 2012, the court ruled that mandatory sentences of life imprisonment without the possibility of parole for juvenile offenders are unconstitutional. This ruling was based on the Eighth Amendment's prohibition against cruel and unusual punishments, recognizing that children are constitutionally different from adults in terms of their level of culpability. The case emphasized the need for sentencing judges to consider the unique characteristics of juvenile offenders, including their age, life experiences, and potential for rehabilitation, before imposing the harshest possible penalty.
Before Miller v. Alabama, it was common in some states to sentence juveniles to life without parole for certain crimes, without considering the individual circumstances of the case. The Miller decision has reshaped how the criminal justice system treats juvenile offenders across the United States.