Erik and Lyle Menendez are serving sentences of 50 years to life in prison , and as of their 2025 resentencing they are now eligible for parole , but they have not been released.

Quick Scoop: How long are the Menendez brothers in jail?

  • They were originally sentenced in the 1990s to life in prison without the possibility of parole for the 1989 murders of their parents in Beverly Hills.
  • In May 2025, a judge resentenced them to 50 years to life , changing their punishment from “life without parole” to a term that allows parole consideration.
  • Because both were under 26 at the time of the crime, California law makes them immediately eligible for parole hearings under the new sentence. This means they can ask to be released, but there is no guarantee the parole board will grant it.
  • They have been in prison for about 35+ years since their arrests and convictions stemming from the 1989 killings, which is why you’ll see people online say they’ve been locked up for “over three decades.”

Why is this trending again?

  • The resentencing in 2025 reopened debate about whether they should ever get out, especially in light of claims about long‑term abuse and their reported rehabilitation work in prison.
  • True‑crime fans and social media (including TikTok) have revived interest in the case, leading to new explainers and timelines about “how long have the Menendez brothers been in jail” and what their futures might look like if a parole board eventually approves release.

Fast facts table

[5] [3][1][5] [1][3][5] [6][8][9]
Detail What it is
Original sentence Life in prison without parole for the 1989 murders of their parents.
Resentencing (2025) Changed to 50 years to life in prison.
Parole status Now eligible for parole consideration; still incarcerated.
Time already served More than 35 years behind bars since the early 1990s.

Bottom line: they are no longer serving “life without parole,” but they remain in prison and will only leave if a parole board eventually decides to release them.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.