People v. Buffer

Summary

The Illinois Supreme Court held that a 50-year sentence imposed for a murder committed at age 16 was an unconstitutional de facto life sentence because the sentencing court did not consider the defendant’s youth and attendant characteristics. The court established that a prison sentence of more than 40 years imposed on a juvenile constitutes a de facto life sentence for purposes of the Eighth Amendment. It affirmed the appellate judgment, vacated the sentence, and remanded for resentencing under the juvenile sentencing statute.