Erik and Lyle Menendez have been in prison since their conviction in 1996 for the 1989 murders of their parents. They were originally sentenced to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole and have served nearly 35 years behind bars

. On May 13, 2025, a Los Angeles judge resentenced the Menendez brothers to 50 years to life, making them immediately eligible for parole under California law because they were under 26 at the time of the crimes

. This resentencing means they could potentially be released on parole after serving the new minimum term, but a parole board must first evaluate their applications, and the process could take years

. In summary:

• Time served so far: About 35 years (since 1990 arrest, convicted in 1996)
• New sentence: 50 years to life with eligibility for parole
• Parole eligibility: Immediate, but release depends on parole board decision and governor's approval

Therefore, while they remain in prison, the resentencing opens the possibility of parole after 50 years, with the parole process now underway