Ariz. Rev. Stat. » Title 13
Arizona Revised Statutes

Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 13-716 (2026)

Juvenile offenders sentenced to life imprisonment; parole eligibility

✓ current as of May 2026
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13-716. Juvenile offenders sentenced to life imprisonment; parole eligibility

Notwithstanding any other law, a person who is sentenced to life imprisonment with the possibility of release after serving a minimum number of calendar years for an offense that was committed before the person attained eighteen years of age is eligible for parole on completion of service of the minimum sentence, regardless of whether the offense was committed on or after January 1, 1994.  If granted parole, the person shall remain on parole for the remainder of the person's life except that the person's parole may be revoked pursuant to section 31-415.

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 37 cases (15 in the last 5 years), 2014–2026 · leading case: State of Arizona v. Ronnie Roy Vera, 334 P.3d 754 (Ariz. Ct. App. 2014).
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State of Arizona v. Ronnie Roy Vera, 334 P.3d 754 (Ariz. Ct. App. 2014). · cites it 25× “2593 and thereby enacted A.R.S. § 13-716, which appears to provide parole eligibility for Vera and other similarly sentenced juvenile offenders after their mandatory minimum terms have been served.”
State of Arizona v. valencia/healer, 386 P.3d 392 (Ariz. 2016). · cites it 16× “The trial court also observed that any constitutional infirmity in Arizona’s sentencing scheme had been resolved by 2014 statutory amendments that reinstated parole for juvenile offenders who received life sentences with the opportunity of release.”
State v. Randles, 334 P.3d 730 (Ariz. Ct. App. 2014). · cites it 7× “That legislation adds A.R.S. § 13-716, which provides in relevant part: Notwithstanding any other law, a person who is sentenced to life imprisonment with the possibility of release after serving a minimum number of calendar years for an offense that was committed before the…”
D. Steilman v. Michael, 2017 MT 310 (Mont. 2017). · cites it 3× “Based on Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 13-716 , the sentences deemed unconstitutional in Tatum were imposed pursuant to a discretionary sentencing scheme.”
State v. Healer, 440 P.3d 404 (Ariz. Ct. App. 2019). · cites it 12× “Discussion Ex Post Facto Claim ¶5 Healer argues life with the possibility of parole after twenty-five years for juveniles convicted of first-degree murder constitutes an illegal sentence because "no lawful sentence for juveniles convicted of first-degree murder existed" when…”
Michael Jessup v. David Shinn, 31 F.4th 1262 (9th Cir. 2022). “Arizona’s more recent statutory changes and caselaw make it nearly certain that, had the sentencing judge allowed release or parole after 25 years, Petitioner would, in fact, be eligible for parole.”
People v. Rodriguez, 2018 IL App (1st) 160030 (Ill. App. Ct. 2018). “See also Ariz. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 13-716 (2016) (allowing a person sentenced to life imprisonment with the possibility of release for an offense committed before 18 years of age to be eligible for parole upon completion of the minimum sentence, and applying retroactively,…”
Freddie Crespin v. Charles Ryan, 46 F.4th 803 (9th Cir. 2022). “2 After the trial court accepted the plea agreement in March 1998, new counsel filed a motion to vacate that order, arguing it was the result of undue pressure from previous counsel. Crespin subsequently withdrew the motion to vacate and the trial court confirmed at the…”
State v. Wagner, 510 P.3d 1083 (Ariz. Ct. App. 2022). · cites it 2× “See A.R.S. §§ 13-716, 41-1604.09(I)(2); 2014 Sess.”
Vera v. Shinn (D. Ariz. 2021). · cites it 24× “He argued Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 13-716 violated the United States Constitution’s ex 10 post facto clause and failed to cure the Eighth Amendment violation contained in his 11 sentence.”
Valencia 124129 v. Shinn (D. Ariz. 2022). · cites it 22× “If granted parole, the person shall remain on parole for the remainder of the person's 23 life except that the person’s parole may be revoked pursuant to § 31-415.”
State v. McDaniel (Ariz. Ct. App. 2016). · cites it 13× “Section 13-716 provides as follows: “Notwithstanding any other law, a person who is sentenced to life imprisonment with the possibility of release after serving a minimum number of calendar years for an offense that was committed before the person attained eighteen years of age…”
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