Life Sentence for Serious Youtfhuful Offender - Authorized but Not Mandated

As a guardian ad litem (GAL) and domestic relations mediator in New Mexico, I take special interest in unusual court cases involving children.  In State v. Oden, 2011-NMSC-024, the New Mexico Supreme Court has held that a life sentence for a 16 year-old child is authorized but not mandated under NMSA Sec. 31-18-15.3(D).