Legislature debates mandatory sentences for juveniles

LINCOLN – Juveniles convicted of Class 1A felonies would no longer face a mandatory life sentence without the possibility of parole under a bill introduced by Sen. Brad Ashford of Omaha.

The bill (LB44), which the Legislature debated Monday, would establish a maximum sentence of life imprisonment and a minimum sentence of 30 years imprisonment for juvenile offenders convicted of the most serious crimes, like murder, rape and kidnapping.

The bill is an attempt to bring Nebraska state law in line with a recent Supreme Court decision that mandatory sentences of life without the possibility of par...