While the criminal justice system is generally designed to punish people for their willful acts, more than 1,000 Pennsylvanians are serving mandatory life sentences though prosecutors never proved that they intended to kill anybody. Felony murder laws are based on the principle that individuals involved in inherently dangerous crimes should be held legally accountable for any resulting deaths, even if they didn’t intend or directly cause them. Currently, Pennsylvania is one of the few states that imposes a mandatory life sentence for felony murder convictions, with no room for parole or consideration of the defendant’s level of involvement in the crime.

Now, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court is currently weighing whether mandatory life sentences for felony murder should be abolished. At the heart of the debate is the case of Derek Lee, who in 2016 was sentenced to life without parole under Pennsylvania’s felony murder rule, despite the fact that he did not personally kill the victim. In 2014, Lee participated in a home invasion robbery where his accomplice fatally shot the homeowner. Under the state’s felony murder law, anyone involved in the commission of a robbery or burglary is liable for any death that results, even that of an accomplice. This “transferred intent” doctrine treats all perpetrators equally, even if only one committed the actual killing. 

Most states allow for more flexibility in the sentencing of individuals convicted of felony murder. While there might be value in deterring participation in criminal activity, many jurisdictions have recognized that it could be unfair to punish defendants who played a peripheral role in a felony in the same way as the defendant who pulled the trigger. 

Derek Lee’s case presents an opportunity for the Pennsylvania Supreme Court to reconsider the rigid application of life sentences in felony murder cases. Advocates for reform argue that mandatory life sentences fail to account for the nuances of each case, such as the individual’s role in the crime, age, criminal history and potential for rehabilitation. Lee’s defenders suggest that his involvement was limited and that a mandatory life sentence ignores the possibility of personal growth and redemption.

Even if the law on felony murder sentencing is changed, these cases will still carry very serious penalties for those who are convicted. If you are accused of any type of involvement in a case where someone died as the result of alleged felony, your next step should be to hire an accomplished Pennsylvania criminal defense lawyer. 

Matthew R. Zatko, Attorney at Law in Somerset represents accused individuals in Somerset, Indiana, Bedford and Cambria counties, as well as other Pennsylvania locations. Please call 814-443-1631 or contact me online for a consultation.