It is a number that feels heavy. 35 years. If you are tracking the calendar from the moment the handcuffs clicked shut on Lyle Menendez in March 1990, followed by Erik just days later, the brothers have spent more than three decades behind bars. That is a lifetime. It is longer than they were ever alive as free men. While most of the world moved on from the 1989 Beverly Hills shotgun slayings of Jose and Kitty Menendez, the brothers remained frozen in time within the California prison system.
But here is the thing: the math isn't as simple as just counting years anymore.
The Timeline: How Long Have the Menendez Brothers Been in Jail?
Honestly, the timeline is a bit of a marathon. Lyle was 21 and Erik was 18 when they killed their parents. They were arrested in 1990, meaning they've been in custody for roughly 35 years and 10 months as of January 2026.
They weren't always in the same place. For a massive chunk of that time—about 22 years—they were kept hundreds of miles apart. Prison officials back then were worried they’d hatch an escape plan together. It wasn't until 2018 that they finally reunited at the Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility in San Diego. Imagine not seeing your only brother for two decades while you both serve life sentences.
Why the sentence changed in 2025
For the longest time, the answer to "how long will they be in jail" was "forever." They were serving life without the possibility of parole (LWOP). That changed in May 2025.
Judge Michael Jesic resentenced them to 50 years to life. Because of California’s "youthful offender" laws—which apply to people who committed crimes before age 26—that new sentence made them eligible for parole immediately. They had already served enough "flat time" to walk into a hearing.
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The Recent Parole Blow (August 2025)
You might have seen the headlines last summer. Many fans and family members thought they were coming home. But in August 2025, the California parole board denied release for both brothers.
- Erik's Hearing: A panel of state commissioners decided he still posed an "unreasonable risk to public safety," citing some past rule violations in prison.
- Lyle's Hearing: His bid was also rejected shortly after.
Basically, just because a judge says you can go home doesn't mean the parole board says you will. They are currently scheduled to remain in prison, though they can petition again in three years.
Life Inside: What 35 Years Does to You
What do you even do with 35 years of prison time? Honestly, the brothers haven't just been sitting in a cell staring at the walls.
Lyle actually earned a bachelor's degree in sociology from UC Irvine in 2024. He’s currently working on a master’s in urban planning. It's a bit surreal to think about—an inmate in a high-security facility studying how to design cities he might never walk through again.
Erik has turned to art. He’s spent years painting and was actually the driving force behind a massive mural project in the prison’s "Echo Yard." This yard is part of a non-designated programming facility where inmates who behave well get a bit more freedom. They have yoga, art classes, and can even use tablets to send emails (though there's no TikTok or Netflix, obviously).
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The Physical Toll
It’s not all degrees and murals. Prison is rough on the body. Recently, news broke that Erik had to undergo two surgeries for severe kidney stones, with a third one potentially on the way. When you've been in the system since you were a teenager and you're now in your mid-50s, the "health care" provided by the state starts to show its limitations.
What People Get Wrong About Their Release
There is a huge misconception that the Netflix show Monsters or the various documentaries "freed" them. They didn't.
What actually moved the needle was new evidence. Specifically, a letter Erik wrote to his cousin Andy Cano eight months before the murders, which detailed the sexual abuse he was suffering. There was also the 2023 allegation from Roy Rosselló, a former member of the band Menudo, who claimed Jose Menendez also abused him.
The court took this seriously. It’s why the resentencing happened. But the legal system moves like a glacier. Even with the LA District Attorney (originally George Gascón, now Nathan Hochman) debating the case, the brothers remain at Richard J. Donovan.
Current Status in 2026
As of right now, Lyle and Erik Menendez are still incarcerated. They have spent over 13,000 days in custody.
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The path forward is narrow:
- Parole Reconsideration: They have to wait out their "denial period" before they can stand before the board again.
- Clemency: Governor Gavin Newsom has the power to commute their sentences, but he’s been playing it very safe, waiting for all the legal dust to settle before making a move.
- Habeas Petition: Their lawyers are still fighting to have the original 1996 murder convictions overturned entirely in favor of manslaughter, which would have seen them released decades ago.
Moving Forward: What to Track
If you're following this case, don't just look for "release dates"—there aren't any yet. Instead, keep an eye on the California Board of Parole Hearings calendar for 2028. That will be the next major turning point for the brothers.
For now, they continue their work in the Echo Yard, mentoring other inmates and waiting for another chance to prove they aren't the same people who walked into a Beverly Hills police station in 1990.
Check the California Department of Corrections (CDCR) inmate locator periodically if you want the most up-to-the-minute confirmation of their location; they are currently listed at the Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility.