In 2014, Darien Harris was convicted of murder for a shooting that occurred in 2011. At the time of the alleged crime, he was 18 years and 3 months old. He was sentenced to 76 years’ imprisonment.
Harris argued that because of his age as well as mitigating factors in his personal history, his sentence violated the Eighth Amendment. The Court did not agree that Harris’ Eighth Amendment rights had been violated, but did concur that mitigating factors related to age and upbringing (also called Miller factors) should be considered during trial and sentencing.
Important Note: In December of 2023, Darien Harris was exonerated for a wrongful conviction after serving more than 12 years in prison.