Juvenile Justice Reform: Supreme Court Hears Juvenile Life Without Parole Cases Today

Background on the Juvenile Life Without Parole Cases

Today, the U.S. Supreme Court is hearing appeals on two cases where teens were sentenced to life without parole for non-homicidal crimes.
The court's decision has the potential to significantly curtail the use of "life without parole" sentences for teens, especially in cases where no one is killed. Youth Today has very thorough coverage, including links to lots of editorials on the topics, and you can find a piece from The Atlantic, "Kids Locked Up for Life."

 
Related Resources from Our Blog

• Check out this moving video testimony from a 29-year-old (see screenshot at right) who, as a teen, killed her pimp, and then was sentenced to life without parole.

• A report from The Heritage Foundation, which supports use of life without parole for juveniles, stimulated a great editorial from Change.org's Criminal Justice blog. (See fifth bullet for link.)

• News from earlier this year: Texas banned juvenile life without parole, and as of July, California was also considering the same. in July (see final bullet for links).

 
What Do You Think?

Is it ever appropriate to sentence teens to life without parole? Any thoughts on why the United States seems to use the sentence far more than other countries? Leave a comment!