JLWOP News
Campaign for the Fair Sentencing of Youth
www.endjlwop.org/category/news
Recent Articles
NATION WIDE
February 25, 2012 | LA Times, Orlando Sentinel
Terrance Graham, subject of the landmark case Graham v. Florida, was re-sentenced to 25 years in prison. Graham, who has served 8 years already, is slated for release in 2029 at the age of 42.
February 7, 2012 | Kalamazoo Gazette
In one of the first post-Graham re-sentencing cases, a Michigan man who was sentenced to LWOP at the age of 17 for felony-murder, will now be eligible for parole.
November 8, 2011 | Los Angeles Times
The Supreme Court will once again consider the constitutionality of a life without parole sentence for children aged 14 sentenced under felony-murder or who committed homicide crimes.
Un-American Justice for Juveniles
Aug. 2, 2011 | World Net Daily
By ignoring children's potential for rehabilitation, states dole out unforgiving sentences that violate basic fairness and human rights principles
There is Progress in the U.S. in the Area of Juvenile Justice
July 13, 2011 | Real Juvenile Justice
Progress is being made in several states in the area of juvenile justice
Juvenile Justice: Or Not So Just?July 8, 2011 | Booksie
Argumentative essay on Juvenile Justice
A Selection of Legislative Victories: Arizona, Illinois, Ohio and Oregon
July 7, 2011 | National Juvenile Justice Network
A few example of the recent headway advancing juvenile justice reforms across the country
A Juvenile Justice System that's Adrift
July 6, 2011 | Los Angeles Times
The federal Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention has real potential but has been left leaderless
Midwest Human Rights Coalition Participates in Government-led Consultation
June 30, 2011 | Midwest Coalition for Human Rights
Coalition and member organizations participated in government-led civil society consultation regarding US obligations under the Convention Against Torture, including the prohibition on JLWOP
Miranda and Juveniles
June 21, 2011 | New York Times
U.S. Supreme Court decisions reflect growing public consensus that punishment intended for adults may not be appropriate for younger defendants
Peter Funt: Juveniles Can't Be Treated Same as Adults
June 20, 2011 | Baxter Bulletin
Trying and sentencing children as adults simply because the crimes of which they are accused shows society’ depravity
Supreme Court Backs Miranda Warning When Questioning Juveniles
June 16, 2011 | The Tennessean
U.S. Supreme Court holds that police need to consider a child’s age when deciding whether to give Miranda warnings
Supreme Court Gives Juveniles Protection in Police Interrogations
June 16, 2011 | Youth Today
J.D.B. v. North Carolina is the latest in a string of cases in which U.S. Supreme Court has applied protection to juveniles
Bryan Gowdy Made History Fighting Life Sentences for Juveniles
June 10, 2011 | Orlando Sentinel
Attorney for Terrance Graham argued against JLWOP before the U.S. Supreme Court
Juvenile Life Without Parole
June 8, 2011 | Youtube
Finding middle grounds in determining the most appropriate punishments
McNeill Stokes on Sentencing Juveniles as Adults and Cruel and Unusual Punishment
June 1, 2011 | Juvenile Justice Information Exchange
Courts should reconsider and rectify JLWOP sentences
Life in Prison Without Possibility of Parole; Cruel and Unusual Punishment?
June 1, 2011 | Real Juvenile Justice
Pastor Rick Kasel: The whole point of incarcerating juveniles is the hope of repentance and changed lives
Equals Rehabilitation: How the States Must Provide Meaningful Opportunity for Release
Spring 2011 | Berkeley Journal of Criminal Law
Juveniles should not be deprived of the opportunity to achieve maturity of judgment and self-recognition of human worth and potential
Supreme Court Restricts Life Without Parole for Juveniles
May 18, 2010 | Washington Post
U.S. Supreme Court ruled in Graham v. Florida that juveniles may not be sentenced to life in prison without parole for any crime short of homicide
March 10, 2010 | Child Rights Information Network
Report on discussion of children's rights at Human Rights Council
Justices Weigh Juveniles’ Life Without Parole
Nov. 10, 2009 | Washington Times
Supreme Court listened to arguments on whether JLWOP for less than murder constitutes an Eighth Amendment violation
Debate: Young Offenders Locked Up for Life
Nov. 8, 2009 | New York Times
Is LWOP cruel and unusual punishment for juveniles convicted of non-homicide crimes?
Sept. 8, 2009 | Balkinization
Featured Center for Law and Global Justice JLWOP Project
July 29, 2009 | Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
Featured Center for Law and Global Justice JLWOP Project
July 13, 2009 | Birmingham Mail (UK)
Featured Professor Connie de la Vega and Director of Human Rights Programs Michelle Leighton
July 7, 2009 | Miller McCune
Featured Center for Law and Global Justice JLWOP Project
March 29, 2009 | Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
Featured Director of Human Rights Programs Michelle Leighton
February 25, 2009 | Des Moines Register
Featured USF Law Review article authored by Professor Connie de la Vega and Director of Human Rights Programs Michelle Leighton
The Rest of Their Lives
October 11, 2005 | Human Rights Watch / Amnesty International
Life without Parole for Child Offenders in the United States
ARIZONA
"Reverse Remand" Bill Passes
April 21, 2011 | National Juvenile Justice Network
SB 1191 allows for a “reverse remand hearing” to decide whether certain cases involving a youth defendant should move from adult court to juvenile court
CALIFORNIA
Committee Approves Bill To End Life Sentences For YouthJuly 5, 2011 | Official Wire
Under Yee’s SB 9, California would join the rest of the world by stopping LWOP sentences for kids
Abolishing Juvenile Life Without Parole in California
June 1, 2011 | Huffington Post
SB 9 recognizes that all young people have the capacity to change for the better
Juvenile Injustice
May 29, 2011 | Daily Paul
Shocking statistics on juvenile lifers
“When I Die, They’ll Send Me Home”
Oct. 17, 2008 | Human Rights Watch
Why Youth are Serving Life without Parole in California
COLORADO
April 20, 2012 |
Denver PostGovernor Hickenlooper signed a bill into law to dramatically curb prosecutors' ability to charge juveniles as adults through the state's longstanding "direct file" system.
July 17, 2011 | DStv
When Kids Get Life travels to Colorado to profile five individuals sentenced to life without parole as juveniles
Interview with Erik in Limon PrisonJuly 2, 2011 | Real Juvenile Justice
17-year-old when sentenced as an adult to LWOP talks about his high school years before he was incarcerated
FLORIDA
Teen Sentences Pose Challenge
Aug. 1, 2011 | St. Augustine Record
Those resentenced under Graham have had sentences as high as 170 yearsMASSACHUSETTS
Juvenile Life-Without-Parole Sentence Too Harsh, Reports Says
Sept. 30, 2009 | Boston.com
Massachusetts has one of the harshest laws in the country for sentencing murderers as young as 14 to LWOP
MICHIGAN
Michigan’s Life Without Parole for Juveniles Challenged
July 25, 2011 | Campus Progress
Michigan case will reach far further than state’s borders, as it seeks to extend Graham to juveniles convicted of homicide
Editorial: Courts Should Give Juvenile Lifers Chance at ParoleJuly 18, 2011 | Detroit Free Press
For now, the federal court harbors the best hope for ending a law that has garnered Michigan international shame
Federal Court Rules ACLU Lawsuit Challenging Juvenile Life Without Parole Can Proceed
July 15, 2011 | American Civil Liberties Union
A lawsuit challenging the state's sentencing of juveniles to life in prison without parole can move forward
ACLU Lawsuit Challenges Life Without Parole For Michigan Juveniles
November 24, 2010 | Voice of DetroitACLU of Michigan today filed a lawsuit on behalf of 9 Michigan citizens sentenced to JLWOP on the ground that locking up children without possibility for release is unconstitutional
PENNSYLVANIA
There's hope for Pa.'s crowded, costly prisons
July 17, 2011 | Pocono Record
Pennsylvania has 473 individuals, juveniles sentenced to life without parole
Man re-sentenced post-Graham, and released after 35 years
April, 29, 2012 | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
After 35 years behind bars, Gene McGuire was released following his post-Graham appeal. Mr. McGuire was sentenced to life without parole in 1977 for acting as a look-out. He was charged under the felony-murder doctrine.
TEXAS
Texas Abolishes Life Without Parole for Juveniles
Sept. 9, 2009 | The Dallas Morning News
Texas lawmakers eliminated JLWOP; the law took effect on September 1, 2009
UTAH
Utah’s High Court Hears Appeal of First Juvenile Serving Life Without ParoleJune 19, 2011 | The Salt Lake Tribune
The ruling could affect the outcome of several pending cases involving juveniles in Utah