Jones v. Mississippi
View Official PDFBelow are plain-language sections to help you understand what the Court decided in Jones v. Mississippi and why it matters. Quotes are taken from the syllabus (the Court’s short summary at the start of the opinion).
Summary
A short, plain-English overview of Jones v. Mississippi.
In Jones v. Mississippi, the Supreme Court addressed whether a sentencer must make a separate finding of permanent incorrigibility before sentencing a juvenile to life without parole. The Court concluded that such a finding is not required, as long as the sentencer has discretion to impose a lesser sentence. The decision does not alter previous rulings that prohibit mandatory life-without-parole sentences for juveniles.
Holding
The single most important “bottom line” of what the Court decided in Jones v. Mississippi.
The Court held that a sentencer need not make a separate factual finding of permanent incorrigibility before sentencing a juvenile to life without parole.
Constitutional Concepts
These are the Constitution-related themes that appear in Jones v. Mississippi. Click a concept to see other cases that involve the same idea.
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Why Cruel and Unusual Punishment is relevant to Jones v. Mississippi
The case addresses the Eighth Amendment's prohibition on cruel and unusual punishment, specifically regarding life-without-parole sentences for juveniles.
Syllabus excerpt (verbatim)Miller v. Alabama, 567 U. S. 460, which held that the Eighth Amendment permits a life-without-parole sentence for a defendant who committed a homicide when he or she was under 18, but only if the sentence is not mandatory and the sentencer therefore has discretion to impose a lesser punishment.
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Why Procedural Due Process is relevant to Jones v. Mississippi
The case involves the procedural requirement for sentencing juveniles, specifically whether a finding of permanent incorrigibility is necessary.
Syllabus excerpt (verbatim)Miller and Montgomery require consideration of an offender's youth but not any particular factual finding.
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Why Substantive Due Process is relevant to Jones v. Mississippi
The case touches on substantive rights related to sentencing juveniles to life without parole, focusing on the discretion required by the sentencer.
Syllabus excerpt (verbatim)A discretionary sentencing system is both constitutionally necessary and constitutionally sufficient.
Key Quotes
Short excerpts from the syllabus in Jones v. Mississippi that support the summary and concepts above.
Miller and Montgomery require consideration of an offender's youth but not any particular factual finding.
A sentencer need not make a separate factual finding of permanent incorrigibility before sentencing a murderer under 18 to life without parole.
The Court's decision does not disturb Miller's holding or Montgomery's holding.
