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Oklahoma State Senator thinks some juveniles need mandatory life sentences

Some states are starting to apply a recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling that says it's unconstitutional to give a mandatory life sentence to juvenile offenders, even in extreme cases like murder.

But Oklahoma State Senator Ralph Shortey think the High Court is encroaching too far on state rights.

And he thinks some crimes demand a stiff punishment.

"The legislatures in most of these states, including Oklahoma, have determined that some of these crimes are just so bad, that they need to have the maximum penalty," Shortey said.

Under the Supreme Court's ruling, lower courts would have to at least consider parole for juveniles and take their age into account when deciding punishment.

A Michigan court has even decided the ruling should be applied retroactively to inmates who are now adults, but were convicted of crimes when they were juveniles.

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