A. 373, 217th Leg. Assemb. (N.J. 2017) (amending N.J.S. 2C:11-3).
New Jersey eliminated life without parole for juveniles with legislation passed in 2017. The statute eliminates life-without-parole sentences for juveniles convicted of murder and provides that the sentence must be either: (1) a term of 30 years, during which the juvenile is not eligible for parole; or (2) a specific term of years that shall be between 30 years and life imprisonment, of which the juvenile shall serve 30 years before being eligible for parole.