Christi Cheramie was a 16-year-old when her boyfriend Gene killed his great aunt. She was present during the murder and is now serving a life sentence, as is Gene. Laurence Steinberg, a Temple psychology professor and expert on adolescent development, says that because the brains of adolescents are still developing, juveniles should never be sentenced to life without parole. "The level of punishment should be in proportion to their level of responsibility," he said. Teens are "more easily coerced and more likely to make impulsive decisions. Their brains are still developing and that affects their behavior," he said.