Pennsylvania spends $20 million annually to keep juvenile lifers in prison

"In many of these cases, there's no reason for these people to be on lifetime parole," said Marsha Levick, deputy director and chief council for the Juvenile Law Center.

Founded in 1975 and based in Philadelphia, the center is a nonprofit law firm that advocates on behalf of children.

The way Levick sees it, the Legislature's refusal to address resentencing reflects Harrisburg's punitive mindset and unwillingness "to give up the lifetime control."

Levick added: "It's a burden for them. And it's a financial burden."