Ending “Death by Incarceration”

FEATURING PARDISS KEBRIAEI - The Pennsylvania Supreme Court in early October will hear arguments in an important case that could have national implications. The case seeks to end mandatory life in prison without parole–what many refer to as “death by incarceration”--sentences for felony murder.

The plaintiff in the case is one Derek Lee who is serving a life sentence without parole for a felony murder conviction. Except that he never killed anyone, nor intended to kill. Pennsylvania has mandatory life without parole sentencing for people involved in felony murders whether or not they are directly culpable–and practice that disproportionately impacts Black Americans.