Project to End Juvenile Life Without Parole

The Juvenile Life Without Parole International Resource Guide and Brief Bank assists juvenile defenders and justice advocates challenge juvenile life without parole (JLWOP) sentences.

The life without parole sentence condemns a juvenile to die in prison and violates international human rights standards of juvenile justice. This web-based legal resource guide, created by the University of San Francisco Center for Law and Global Justice in collaboration with the National Juvenile Defender Center, is designed to help lawyers in juvenile cases to more effectively challenge a JLWOP sentence and to facilitate the use of international legal norms in litigation and advocacy.  This site provides access to international legal materials, state laws, and appellate briefs that can be downloaded and printed, along with information on legal experts and links to relevant news.

We welcome your feedback, comments, or questions. Please contact Connie de la Vega at delavega@usfca.edu, or for general inquiries email us at projectendjlwop@usfca.edu. 

The University of San Francisco School of Law’s Frank C. Newman International Human Rights Law Clinic filed an amicus brief before the U.S. Supreme Court for the upcoming cases Miller v. Alabama and Jackson v. Hobbs. The cases, which are being heard jointly, consider whether a sentence of life without parole is constitutional when applied to juveniles involved in homicides. Read MoreThe Supreme Court of the United States has ruled that mandatory life without parole sentences are unconstitutional for juveniles under the age of 18 in the case Miller v. Alabama. Read the opinion here, and refer to our side link for updates, explanations and resources. The Supreme Court of California ruled that a sentence of 110 years for a non-homicide crime was unconstitutional under Graham's mandates against cruel and unusual punishment in People v. Caballero. Read the opinion here, and read our amicus brief filed in the case here.