Press Statement  Attorney General Andrea Campbell Issues Statement On Today's SJC Ruling That Mandatory Life Without Parole Is Unconstitutional For Adults Under 21

BOSTON — Today, Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell issued the following statement on the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court’s decision in Commonwealth v. Mattis in which the court held that it is a violation of the state constitution to sentence adults under the age of 21 to life in prison without the possibility of parole. 

“Today’s ruling underscores the importance of our legal system acknowledging the ongoing brain development of young people in order to improve public safety, reduce recidivism and deliver justice,” said AG Campbell. “The science emphatically demonstrates that young people have an extraordinary capacity to change and mature, and our justice system should provide them the invaluable opportunity to turn their lives around and fulfil their potential.” 

In September 2023, AG Campbell testified in support of An Act to promote public safety and better outcomes for young adults, more commonly known as legislation to “Raise the Age”, reflecting the latest brain development science, aligning closely with today’s ruling. The legislation would raise the age of juvenile court jurisdiction to include 18-, 19-, and 20-year-olds over the course of five years, a move that would improve outcomes for young people and enhance overall public safety.