Parole possibility for minors sentenced to life, another progressive gain for Illinois

Parole possibility for minors sentenced to life, another progressive gain for Illinois

Life without possibility of parole makes no sense. Never has, never will.

Two years ago an Illinois law went into effect that recognizes that truth…at least involving killers under 21 at the time of their crime. It allows those sentenced to natural life to seek parole after serving 40 years.                                                                      

That new law was on display this week with the life sentence given 21 year old Steven Montano, who was 18 when he murdered Chicago police officer Vasquez Lasso responding to a 911 call in 2023. 

The rationale for the law is based on evolving science that children and teens’ brains are not fully developed enough to comprehend the gravity of their actions.

We can go back a century to 1924 when a notorious Chicago murder case presented a stunning example validating the rationale behind the minor parole possibility law.

Nathan Leopold, 18, a University of Chicago senior, along with friend, 19 year old Richard Loeb, murdered Leopold’s cousin in their twisted quest to commit the perfect crime. Both were sentenced to life plus 99 years, presuming they’d never leave prison. Loeb was murdered in prison 12 years later. 

But Leopold's exemplary conduct won him parole after serving just 34 years. Only 52, he relocated to Puerto Rico where he became an X-Ray technician in a church hospital. He went on to earn a master's degree, taught at the University of Puerto Rico, became a researcher in social services in Puerto Rico's health department, did research in leprosy, urban renewal and housing, and traveled extensively to research a book he published on Puerto Rican bird life. He married a widow in 1961 who was with him till his death at 66 in 1971.

 Nathan Leopold's case argued strongly not only for abolishing capital punishment, but also for abolishing life without parole for offenders who can demonstrate both their rehabilitation and their readiness to rejoin society at some point. Nobody lost when Nathan Leopold was paroled after 34 years. No potential murderer thinks that 34 years imprisonment is a fair trade to kill someone. As much as Nathan Leopold gained from his freedom, society gained even more. 

Montano will be 61 when he becomes eligible for parole in 2065. Just that possibility, however slight, might inspire Montano to dedicate his next 40 years in prison to become a better, productive person who may earn his freedom while still young enough to continue that personal trajectory outside the gates. 

                                                                    

Illinois once again deserves credit for a decent, humane improvement to our justice system. Next term the legislature should expand the law to apply to everyone sentenced to or serving life without possibility of parole. It does not deter crime. It does not serve the public interest.

 

Life without parole simply keeps aging, infirm, harmless convicts caged in a taxpayer funded nursing home.

Walt Zlotow   Glen Ellyn IL 

substack.com/@waltzlotow