In the 2018 case of State v. Bassett, the Washington Supreme Court considered the constitutionality of juvenile life without parole (JLWOP) sentences. The defendant, Jeremy Bassett, was sentenced to three consecutive life sentences without the possibility of parole for aggravated murder offenses committed at the age of sixteen. The Court held that these sentences violated Article I, Section 14 of the Washington State Constitution, which prohibits the imposition of "cruel punishment." The Court differentiated this provision from the Eighth Amendment's prohibition against "cruel and unusual punishment," emphasizing the broader protections afforded by the Washington State Constitution.

In the 2018 case of State v. Bassett, the Washington Supreme Court addressed the issue of juvenile life without parole (JLWOP) sentences. The defendant, Jeremy Bassett, was given three JLWOP sentences for aggravated murder committed when he was 16 years old. The Court determined that these sentences violated Article I, Section 14 of the Washington State Constitution, which prohibits "cruel punishment." The Court differentiated the state constitution's language from the Eighth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, which prohibits "cruel and unusual punishment." It found that Washington's "cruel punishment" clause provides broader protection than the Eighth Amendment.

In 2018, the Washington Supreme Court made a decision in a case called State v. Bassett. Jeremy Bassett was given three life sentences without the possibility of parole for very serious murders he committed when he was only 16 years old. The Court decided that these sentences went against part of Washington's State Constitution, specifically Article I, Section 14, which doesn't allow "cruel punishment." They pointed out that Washington's constitution offers more protection than the Eighth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which only prohibits "cruel and unusual punishment."

In 2018, the Washington Supreme Court made a big decision in a case called State v. Bassett. Jeremy Bassett was only 16 years old when he was given three life sentences without the chance of parole for murder. The Court decided these sentences were wrong because they went against a rule in Washington's Constitution that says punishments can't be "cruel." The Court explained that Washington's rule against "cruel punishment" is stronger than the rule against "cruel and unusual punishment" found in the U.S. Constitution.