High court to look at life in prison for juveniles

Nov 8th, 2009 - Washington Post

Related content:

High court to look at life in prison for juveniles

WASHINGTON -- Joe Sullivan was sent away for life for raping an elderly woman and judged incorrigible though he was only 13 at the time of the attack.

Terrance Graham, implicated in armed robberies when he was 16 and 17, was given a life sentence by a judge who told the teenager he threw his life away.

They didn't kill anyone, but they effectively were sentenced to die in prison.

Life sentences with no chance of parole are rare and harsh for juveniles tried as adults and convicted of crimes less serious than killing. Just over 100 prison inmates in the United States are serving those terms, according to data compiled by opponents of the sentences.

Read the whole story on Washington Post or try our Toolbar

blog comments powered by Disqus

Life without parole unconstitutional for teens, Supreme Court told
Nov 9th, 2009 - MiamiHerald
WASHINGTON -- Florida's tough prison sentences for juveniles came under scrutiny Monday at the U.S. Supreme Court, as the justices appeared divided over whether locking up teenagers for life constitutes cruel and unusual punishment.
Justices debate life sentences for juveniles
Nov 9th, 2009 - CNN
Washington (CNN) -- The Supreme Court wrestled in often emotional terms Monday over whether sentencing juvenile criminals to life in prison without parole is "cruel and unusual" punishment...
At Supreme Court, no accord over life sentences for juveniles
Nov 9th, 2009 - The Christian Science Monitor
Washington - A sharply divided US Supreme Court on Monday debated whether to invalidate state laws that permit juveniles to be sentenced to life in prison without parole for nonhomicide crimes. It is a potential watershed decision...
Juvenile Life-Sentence Cases Raise Question Over Role of Judge
Nov 9th, 2009 - FOXNews
When a judge sentences a 13-year-old boy to spend the rest of his life in prison without a chance of parole for a crime in which nobody has died, is he meting out justice?...
Court Considers Juvenile Life Sentences
Nov 7th, 2009 - AOL News
WASHINGTON (Nov. 7) -- Joe Sullivan was sent away for life for raping an elderly woman and judged incorrigible though he was only 13 at the time of the attack. Terrance Graham...