ash soc 331 entire course Ash SOC 331 Week 5 DQ 1 Retributive Justice and Ma | Page 2

Alabama) was a 5-4 split in the Court – which
is typical of many such decisions that apply
the cruel and unusual punishment provision.
Your initial post must analyze the retributive
justice issues of mandatory, life-without-
parole sentences. Consider the facts of Miller
v. Alabama: Defendant Miller, a 14-year old
boy, with an accomplice beat the victim with a
baseball bat and set his trailer on fire with the
victim inside. Defendant Miller was tried as an
adult for capital murder while committing
arson.
Is a mandatory, life-without-parole sentence
just in such circumstances? Remember that
“just” may or may not be the same as
“constitutional.” Summarize both the pros and
the cons of your answer to this question, and
critically evaluate these pros and cons,
applying principles of retributive justice
discussed in the text. Your evaluation must
respond to the pros and cons, giving
persuasive reasons why you agree with some
and disagree with some.