Community | November 05, 2009 | 205 comments

Locked up for life at 13

source: http://www.newsweek.com/id/221203

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KSirys
The U.S. is the only country that sentences juveniles to life in prison without parole. Will the Supreme Court declare it unconstitutional?

Iraq doesn't do it. North Korea considers it a cruel form of punishment. But in the United States sentencing a juvenile to life in prison without the possibility of parole is legal.

But on November 12, the U.S. Supreme Court will take up two cases involving juvenile offenders in Florida who claim their life sentences for rape and robbery violate the cruel-and-unusual-punishment clauses of the Constitution.

There are about 2,500 juveniles (ranging in age from 13 to 18) currently sentenced to life in prison in the United States. No other country in the world currently has adolescents serving this sentence, reports the Frank C. Newman International Human Rights Law Clinic.

"We aren't saying that all of these kid offenders should be let out," says Connie de la Vega, Professor of Law at University of San Francisco School of Law. "They should be given a chance to rehabilitate themselves. They should be given the chance to apply for parole, even if it's after 10 or 15 years."

The cases the Supreme Court will hear are Sullivan v. Florida and Graham v. Florida, involving cases of rape and robbery by a then 13-year-old and a 17-year-old, respectively. If the court determines these sentences are unconstitutional, Joe Sullivan, now 33, and Terrance Graham, now 22, currently serving life sentences without the possibility of parole, could each be granted a new hearing to determine a revised sentence.

http://www.newsweek.com/id/221203

*****

Only in this country, do we still have JACKASSES that think locking up a 13 yr old boy is a good thing. I'm not going to bring up the race card here, but it's becoming to apparent, there's to many young black kids arrested and sentenced for a long time because they are young and don't know any better. While the rich spend a month or two in jail....
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205 comments // Locked up for life at 13

  • JonRaymond
  • KSirys
    • 0
      KSirys  
    • KSirys:

      Lurkistan, I'm sorry but I can't agree with you. Anyone and I mean anyone, does anything to my family and they are of legal age, I would expect for the cops to come look for me first, before I find his/her ass!! Because whoever decides to hurt my family and they are of age, should watch out...

      Now, if you're under 18... only if you're under 18, then I would push for that person to get help, stay in prison until 18 and get a second chance. A lot of people putting up comments here have done something wrong one time or another in their life and always hope to get a second chance. Rape is not that simple or even murder. But at the age of 13??? I can't do anything to him/her or expect anyone to hurt him/her because they are KIDS!!

      This country looks at ways to make money first and teach their youths second. Why?? because the Government does it all the time. Our school system is the worst in the WORLD!! why? because money in this country is FIRST. Not education, if you don't think so, go ask 50% of the college kids playing sports today and see if the can speak to you in an educated manner.

    • 2 years ago
  • nkeg87
    • 0
      nkeg87  
    • KSirys:

      I blame the school system too. But I don't think age makes a difference in right vs wrong sometimes. Im all for forgiveness and rehabilitation, but I dont think age is a valid excuse for some of the crimes people commit. Just because you arent 18 doesnt mean you arent well aware that what you are doing is wrong.

    • 2 years ago
  • letlhogonolo
    • 0
      letlhogonolo  
    • KSirys:

      KSirys, I agree with you completely as well, especially about the school system. Prime example, even better than the athletes, I moved here in the 3rd grade from Botswana, and yet I was the only one in my class full of Americans that knew which country was north of the US. America's still got a long ways to go... :/

    • 2 years ago
  • Lurkistan
    • 0
      Lurkistan  
    • KSirys:

      KSirys, I agree with you about the school system here in the states. But turning 18 isn't some magical event in which you turn into an adult, its just an arbitrary number that our country has written in to the laws, in the past a 15 year old would have been considered an adult able to start working and even start a family. So if a 17 year old did something bad to my family you can bet I would react the same way as if they were 19 or 30.

    • 2 years ago
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