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JuvenilesDontDeserveLifeSentences
GailGaringer
Boston
March14,2012
IN
the
late
1980s,
a
small
but
influential
group
of
criminologists
predicted
a
coming
wave
of
violent
ju
venilecrime:superpredators,asyoungas11,committingcrimesinwolfpacks.Politicianssoonre
spondedtothosefears,andtoconcernsabouttheperceivedinadequaciesofstatejuvenilejusticesys
tems,byloweringtheageatwhichchildrencouldbetransferredtoadultcourts.Theconcernwasthat
offendersprosecutedasjuvenileswouldhavetobereleasedatage18or21.
Atthesametime,toughoncrimerhetoricledsomestatestoenactlawsmakingiteasiertoimposelife
withoutparolesentencesonadults.Theunintendedconsequenceoftheselawswasthatchildrenas
youngas13and14whowerechargedasadultsbecamesubjecttolifewithoutparolesentences.
Nationwide,79youngadolescentshavebeensentencedtodieinprisonasentencenotimposedon
childrenanywhereelseintheworld.Thesechildrenweretoldthattheycouldneverchangeandthatno
onecaredwhatbecameofthem.Theyweredeniedaccesstoeducationandrehabilitationprogramsand
leftwithouthelporhope.
Butthepredictionofagenerationofsuperpredatorsnevercametopass.Beginninginthemid1990s,
violentjuvenilecrimedeclined,andithascontinuedtodeclinethroughthepresentday.Thelawsthat
werepassedtodealwiththem,however,continuetoexist.Thismonth,theUnitedStatesSupreme
Court
will
hear
oral
arguments
in
two
cases,
Jackson
v.
Hobbs
and
Miller
v.
Alabama,
which
will
decide
whetherchildrencanbesentencedtolifewithoutparoleafterbeingconvictedofhomicide.
Thecourthasalreadystruckdownthedeathpenaltyforjuvenilesandlifewithoutparoleforyoungof
fendersconvictedinnonhomicidecases.Therationalefortheseearlierdecisionsissimpleandequally
applicabletothecasestobeheard:Youngpeoplearebiologicallydifferentfromadults.Brainimaging
studiesrevealthattheregionsoftheadolescentbrainresponsibleforcontrollingthoughts,actionsand
emotionsarenotfullydeveloped.Theycannotbeheldtothesamestandardswhentheycommitterri
blewrongs.
Homicideistheworstcrime,butinstrikingdownthejuveniledeathpenaltyin2005,theSupremeCourt
recognizedthateveninthemostseriousmurdercases,juvenileoffenderscannotwithreliabilitybe
classifiedamongtheworstoffenders:theyarelessmature,morevulnerabletopeerpressure,cannot
escapefromdangerousenvironments,andtheircharactersarestillinformation.Andbecausetheyre
mainunformed,itisimpossibletoassumethattheywillalwayspresentanunacceptablerisktopublic
safety.
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Themostdisturbingpartofthesuperpredatormythisthatitpresupposedthatcertainchildrenwere
hopelesslydefective,perhapsgeneticallyso.Today,fewbelievethatcriminalgenesareinherited,except
inthesensethatparentalabuseandnegativehomelivescanleavechildrenwithlittlehopeandlimited
choices.
Asaformer
juvenile
court
judge,
Ihave
seen
firsthand
the
enormous
capacity
of
children
to
change
and
turnthemselvesaround.Thesamemalleabilitythatmakesthemvulnerabletopeerpressurealsomakes
thempromisingcandidatesforrehabilitation.
Anoverwhelmingmajorityofyoungoffendersgrowoutofcrime.Butitisimpossibleatthetimeofsen
tencingformentalhealthprofessionalstopredictwhichyoungsterswillfallwithinthatmajorityand
growuptobeproductive,lawabidingcitizensandwhichwillfallintothesmallminoritythatcontinueto
commitcrimes.Forthisreason,thecourthaspreviouslyrecognizedthatchildrenshouldnotbecon
demnedtodieinprisonwithoutbeinggivenameaningfulopportunitytoobtainreleasebasedon
demonstratedmaturity
and
rehabilitation.
Thecriminologistswhopromotedthesuperpredatortheoryhaveacknowledgedthattheirprediction
nevercametopass,repudiatedthetheoryandexpressedregret.Theyhavejoinedseveraldozenother
criminologistsinanamicusbrieftothecourtaskingittostrikedownlifewithoutparolesentencesfor
childrenconvictedofmurder.Iurgethejusticestoapplythelogicandthewisdomoftheirearlierdeci
sionsandaffirmthatthebesttimetodecidewhethersomeoneshouldspendhisentirelifeinprisonis
whenhehasgrowntobeanadult,notwhenheisstillachild.
GailGaringer,
ajuvenile
court
judge
in
Massachusetts
from
1995
to
2008,
is
the
states
child
advocate,
appointedbythegovernor.
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Givingjailedjuvenilesasecondchanceatlife
ByMarianWrightEdelman
Published:March15
EdwinDesamour
was
driving
with
his
3year
old
son
in
their
Philadelphia
neighborhood
recently
when
thelittleboylookedupandsaid,Daddy,lookatthemoon!Iwanttogothere!Sothisfatherdidwhat
manyparentswould:Heboughthissonbooksonscienceandspacevoyagesandencouragedhimto
believethathisdreamscancometrue.
EdwinssonhasbeenblessedwithavastlydifferentchildhoodthanEdwinhad.Edwingrewuppoorina
violentneighborhoodinPhiladelphia,surroundedbydrugs,gunsandcrime.Atage16hewasconvicted
ofahomicide.Thetimehespentwithhisfatherasateenagercamewhentheywereassignedtothe
samecellblockinprison.
Edwinwascaughtupindangeroussurroundingshedidntchoose,andhisviolentactionsasanadoles
centresultedinterribleloss.Buthematuredinprisonandbecamedeterminedtoearnparolesohe
couldreturntohisoldneighborhoodandmakeadifferenceinthelivesofotheryoungmen.In2007
EdwinfoundedMeninMotionintheCommunity,anorganizationthatprovidespositiverolemodelsfor
atriskyouths.Itteachesthemthatthereareconsequencestotheiractions,andithelpsyouthsavoid
violence.
Edwinwaslucky.Hehadanopportunitytodemonstratethathehadchangedandtoearnreleasefrom
prisonon
parole.
But
other
youths
who
committed
similar
crimes
have
been
sentenced
to
die
in
prison
including79whowereonly13or14yearsoldwhenarrested,almost70percentofwhomarechil
drenofcolor.Nextweek,theSupremeCourtwillhearargumentaboutwhetheryoungpeopleshould
havethechancetoprovethattheyhavechangedthewayEdwindidandearneventualreleasefrom
prison.InthecasesofKuntrellJacksonandEvanMiller,bothofwhomwere14whentheywerearrest
ed,thecourtwilldecidewhetheritiscruelandunusualpunishmenttosentencechildrentolifeimpris
onmentwithoutthepossibilityofparole.
Thecourthasanimportantopportunitytoaffirmwhatithasalreadyrecognizedindeclaringthedeath
penaltyforjuvenilesunconstitutional(Roperv.Simmons)andininvalidatingthelifewithoutparole
sentencefornonhomicidecrimescommittedbyjuveniles(Grahamv.Florida):Sentencingayoungper
sontolifewithoutthepossibilityofparoleisthesamethingassentencingthatyoungpersontodiein
prisonandsuchasentenceistooharshforjuveniles,whosebrainsarenotfullyformeduntilwellpast
adolescenceandwholackthematurityandimpulsecontrolofadults.
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WhenIworkwithkids,Iseeitallthetime,Edwinsays.Theytalkabouttherevengethattheyhope
wouldprovetheirmanhood,oraviolentactthattheyhopewillmakethemsafe.WhenIaskthem,
Whathappensafterthat?theyredumbfounded.Theycantthinkpasttheimmediateimpulseand
processconsequences.Scientistsconfirmwhatparentsalreadyknow:Teenagebrainsarebiologically
differentfromadultbrainsandlacktheabilitytoexercisematurejudgment,especiallywhenyoung
peoplefindthemselvesinviolentandstressfulenvironments.
Fiveyearsago,theChildrensDefenseFundlaunchedtheCradletoPrisonPipelineCampaigntofocus
attentiononthenationalcrisisthatleavesablackboybornin2001withaoneinthreechanceofgoing
toprisoninhislifetimeandaLatinoboyaoneinsixriskofthesamefate.Thepipelineisfueledbyracial
disparities,pervasivepoverty,trauma,inadequatephysicalandmentalhealthcare,gapsinearlychild
hooddevelopment,disparateeducationalopportunities,chronicabuseandneglect,andoverburdened
andineffectivejuvenilejusticesystems.EdwinDesamourfacedtheseoverwhelmingodds,buthewas
abletoearnasecondchancetoescapethepipeline.Otherchildrenhaveneverbeengiventhatchance.
AllchildrenareGodschildren.Buttoomanychildren,especiallythoseofcolor,findthemselvesindan
gerouscircumstancestheycanneitherescapenorsuccessfullynavigate.Sentencingchildrentodiein
prisonisanexpressionofhopelessness.TheSupremeCourtshouldrecognizewhatEdwinsstoryso
powerfullydemonstrates:Theseyoungpeoplehaveagreatcapacityforchangeandgrowth,anditis
excessiveandunfairtomakeafinaljudgmentthatchildrenwhocommiteventhemostseriouscrimes
mustbeforeverconfinedtoprison,withnohopeofdemonstratingreformorachievingrelease.Science
tellsusthatchildrensbrainswillchangeandmature.Ourheartstellusallchildrendeservethechance
togrowupandgiveback.
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Don'tputjuvenilesinjailforlife
ByLaurenceSteinberg,SpecialtoCNNupdated10:21AMEDT,MonMarch19,2012
(CNN) Therearemorethan2,500peopleservinglifesentenceswithoutthepossibilityofparolefor
crimestheycommittedwhentheywerejuveniles.Somewereasyoungas13whentheyweresentto
prison.
In2010,theU.S.SupremeCourtruledthatlifewithoutparoleforjuvenilesconvictedofcrimesother
thanhomicideviolatedtheConstitution'sprohibitionagainstcruelandunusualpunishment,aruling
thatextended
the
court's
logic
in
its
2005
decision
to
abolish
the
juvenile
death
penalty.
In
both
of
these
cases,thecourtheldthatbecauseadolescentsarenotasresponsiblefortheiractionsasadults,they
shouldnotbepunishedasharshly,evenforthesamecrimes.
ThecourtreliedinpartontheresearchmycolleaguesandIconductedfortheMacArthurFoundation
ResearchNetworkonAdolescentDevelopmentandJuvenileJusticeshowingthatadolescentsareless
maturethanadultsinwaysthatmakethemmoreimpulsive,moreshortsightedandmoresusceptible
topeerinfluence,allfactorsthatmakethemlessculpable.
OnTuesday,
the
court
will
hear
appeals
of
two
cases
that
ask
whether
life
without
parole
is
an
appro
priatesentenceforjuvenilesconvictedofhomicide.Bothcasesinvolvepeoplewhowere14atthetime
oftheiroffense,buttheircrimeswereverydifferent.KuntrellJacksonwaspartofagroupofboyswho
shotastoreclerkduringarobberyofavideostoreinArkansas;althoughJacksondidnotdotheshoot
ing,hewasfoundguiltyof"felonymurder,"becausehewaspartofthegroupthatcommittedafelony
duringwhichsomeonewaskilled.
Theotherplaintiff,EvanMiller,carriedoutabrutalmurderofaneighborinAlabamawhomheandan
otherteenagerrobbed,beatingthevictimtodeathandlaterreturningtothecrimesceneandsetting
thevictim'straileronfiretocoverupthecrime.
Thecontrastbetweenthecrimes,aswellastheyouthfulnessofthejuvenilesinquestion,createsmany
possiblealternativesforthejusticestocontemplate.Thecourtcouldextendthelogicofitspreviousde
cisionsandbanlifewithoutparoleforjuvenilesunequivocally,onthegroundsthateventhemosthei
nouscrimedoesn'tmagicallyturna14yearoldintoanadult.
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Ontheotherhand,thecourtcoulddecidethat"deathisdifferent"andrulethatlifeinprisonisanap
propriatepunishmentforsomeonewhohascommittedmurder,regardlessofhisage.Inbetweenthese
twoextremesarenumerousmiddlegrounds.
Theyincludebanninglifewithoutparoleforjuvenilesconvictedoffelonymurderbutnotothertypesof
murder;banning
life
without
parole
for
youths
14
and
younger,
but
leaving
undecided
the
constitution
alityofthissentenceforolderteens;permittinglifewithoutparoleforjuvenilesasanoptionbutpro
hibitingitasamandatorysentence,asitnowisinabouttwothirdsofstatesthatpermitit;andvarious
combinationsofthesealternatives.
Opinion:WhyaremillionsofAmericanslockedup?
Theargumentinfavoroflifewithoutparoleforpeopleconvictedofmurderisthatthesentenceisnec
essarytodetercrime,protectpublicsafetyandremovefromsocietythosewhoarethoughttobeincor
rigible.
ItishardtoseehowthislogicappliestoKuntrellJackson,whohadnohistoryofviolentcrime,whowas
servingasalookoutduringtherobbery,andwhodidnotpersonallymurderanyone.A14yearoldboy
inthepresenceofhispeerswilloftendofoolishanddangerousthings,andthesortofbehaviorJackson
exhibitedisfarmorelikelytobeindicativeoftransientadolescentimmaturitythandeepseateddeprav
ity.
ItishardertogeneratesympathyforEvanMiller,giventheheinousnessofhiscrime,butthereareways
topunish
him
and
protect
the
public
without
precluding
the
possibility
of
his
rehabilitation.
Thereisnoscientificevidencethatsentencingjuvenilestolongprisonsentencesdetersotheradoles
centsfromcommittingcrimes,becausethesameimmaturitythatleadsteenagerstodoimpulsiveand
recklessthingsmakesthemunlikelytothinkfarenoughaheadtobedeterredbytheprospectofaseri
ouspunishment.
Moreimportantly,wearesimplynotgoodenoughatpredictingthebehaviorofa14yearold,evenone
whohascommittedagrisly,violentoffense,tosaywithanycertaintythatheisbeyondredemption.
RatherthancommitnowtospendingmillionsofdollarskeepingMillerlockedupforlife,aparoleboard
canevaluateMillerafterhehasmaturedintoadulthoodanddecidewhetherandwhenitisappropriate
toreturnhimtothecommunity.
Endinglifewithoutparoleforalljuvenileoffendersisthesensiblethingtodo.
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Laurence Steinberg is a professor of psychology at Temple University and former director of the MacArthur
Foundation Research Network on Adolescent Development and Juvenile Justice. He is the author of "You and
Your Adolescent: The Essential Guide for Ages 10 to 25."
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StatesNewsService
Copyright2012StatesNewsService
March20,2012
JUVENILELIFESENTENCES:CONSTITUTIONALITYOFLIFEWITHOUTPAROLEFORTEENAGEMURDERERSWASHINGTON
ThefollowinginformationwasreleasedbytheHeritageFoundation:
ByCharlesStimsonandElizabethGarvey
OnTuesday,March20,theSupremeCourthearsoralargumentintwocasesinvolvingtheconstitution
alityofsentencesoflifewithoutparole(LWOP)forteenagemurderers.TherealissuebeforetheCourtis
this:Will theCourtagain "find"or "invent"aheretoforeundiscovered constitutionalprohibition and
thusstrikeanentirecategoryofsentencesforthemostviolentteenagers,orwillitdefertothecarefully
consideredjudgmentofthevastmajorityofthestates(39)andfederalgovernmentthathavedecided
toauthorizethesentenceinappropriatecases?
TheTwoCases
Inthefirstcase(Millerv.Alabama),EvanMillerwas14yearsoldwhenherobbedandrepeatedlybeat
anintoxicatedneighborwithabaseballbatthensettheman'straileronfireandlefthimtodie.Theju
venilecourt,understatelaw,transferredMillertoadultcourtbasedonthenatureofthecrime,hispre
viousdelinquencyhistory,andthefactthathewasdeemedcompetenttostandtrial.Millerwasfound
guiltyofcapitalmurder.Sincehewas14atthetimeofthecrime,Millerwasnoteligibleforcapitalpun
ishmentbutratherAlabama'smandatoryminimumsentenceofLWOP.
Inthe
second
case
(Jackson
v.
Hobbs),
Kuntrell
Jackson
was
also
14
when
he
and
two
other
teenagers
attempted to rob a video store. Jackson knewoneofhis accompliceshad a sawedoff shotgun and
threatenedthefemalestoreclerkbeforeoneoftheotherteenagersshotherinthefaceandkilledher.
Jacksonwastried inadultcourt,wherehewasfoundguiltyofcapitalmurderandaggravatedrobbery
andsentencedtoLWOPunderArkansasstatelaw.
An"EvolvingStandardofDecency"
InpetitioningtheSupremeCourt,bothMillerandJacksonarguethattheirLWOPsentencesamountto
cruel and unusual punishment in violation of the Eighth Amendment. These cases present theHigh
Courtwith
yet
another
opportunity
to
chip
away
at
the
states'
framework
for
dealing
with
violent
teen
agerssuchasMillerandJackson.[1]
InRoperv.Simmons(2005),theCourtfoundthedeathpenaltyforteenagemurderersunconstitutional
because those sentences supposedly violated the "cruel and unusual punishment" standard of the
EighthAmendment.Fiveyears later, inGrahamv.Florida (2010), theCourtbanned theuseofLWOP
sentencesforteenagerswhocommittedviolentcrimesotherthanmurder,citingthesamereason.
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Overtime,theCourthasgraftedonto"cruelandunusualpunishment"arequirementthatpunishments
reflectthe"evolvingstandardsofdecencythatmarktheprogressofamaturingsociety."AndtheCourt
hasgrantedtoitselfthesoledutyofdecidingthose"evolvingstandardsofdecency"ratherthandefer
ringtosocietyitself,asreflectedthroughelected,accountablerepresentativesof(inthiscase)39states
and theU.S.Congress.Advocates for themurderers arehoping that theCourt applies the "evolving
standardsofdecency"andfindsLWOPsentencesforteenagemurderersunconstitutional.Thestatesof
AlabamaandArkansas,theNationalDistrictAttorneysAssociation(NDAA),andvictim'srightsorganiza
tionsarehopingthattheCourtdrawsalineforcommonsenseanddeferstotheconsideredwisdomand
constitutionalauthorityofthestatestofashionappropriatesentencesfortheworstoftheworst.
ANationalConsensus
Thevastmajorityofjuvenileswhocommitcrimesaretriedinthejuvenilejusticesystem.Everystatehas
aseparatejuvenilejusticesystemtodealwithjuvenilecrimes.ThosesystemsexistbecauseAmerican
societybelievesthatmostteencriminalscanberehabilitatedoratleastshouldbegiventheopportuni
tyto
try
to
reform
their
ways.
That
is
smart
public
policy.
Thus,
there
is
anational
consensus
that
most
juvenilesbelonginthejuvenilejusticesystem.
But there isanothernationalconsensus: thata smallpercentageof theworst teenoffendersasmall
percentageofteenmurderersshouldbewaivedand/ortried inadultcourt.Andasmallpercentageof
thosewhoareconvictedoftheworstcrimesshouldbeeligibleforLWOP.
Ingeneral, theSupremeCourt looks for trendsoranationalconsensus todetermine theprogressof
American society as itmatures. There are strong figures to support the use and constitutionality of
LWOPsentences.
Currently,
39
jurisdictions
allow
teenagers
14
years
and
older
to
receive
LWOP
sen
tences foraggravatedmurder,and26statesandthe federalgovernmentmakeLWOP themandatory
minimum sentencewhena14yearolddefendant is tried inadult courtand convictedofaggravated
murder.ButLWOPisreservedforthemostseriousoffenders.
AsJacksonadmits inhisbriefto theSupremeCourt,approximately79 individualswhocommittedof
fensesatage13or14havebeensentencedtoLWOPsincetheimpositionofthefirstLWOPsentencein
1971.
Thefact
that
some
79
teenagers
have
been
deemed
deserving
of
LWOP
in
over
40
years
is
significant;
it
indicates that the criminaljustice systemhasworkedeffectively, ensuring thatonly those teenagers
whocommitthemostheinousaggravatedmurdersreceiveLWOPsentences.Anumberofcheckswithin
thesystemhavemadethispossible,fromthediscretionofjuvenilecourtstotransferteenagerstoadult
courtorkeeptheminthejuvenilesystemtoprosecutors'selectionofwhichchargesappropriatelycor
respondwiththegravityofthecrime.AdvocatesforMillerandJacksonhavenomeaningfulrebuttalto
thesefacts.
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Additionally,theyarguethatthere isa"consensus"withinthescientificcommunitythatteenagers(or
"children"astheycallthem)are"unfinishedproducts"withlimitedforesightandaregenerallylesscul
pablefortheiractions.Inotherwords,theyarenotmatureenoughtomakerationalandintelligentde
cisionsand
thus
should
not
be
subjected
to
the
sentence
of
LWOP
when
tried
as
adults.
Butas theNDAAargues in itsamicusbrief, constitutionalprohibitions shouldnotbebasedon social
science.WhetherornotLWOPsentencesareappropriateshouldbelefttothestatelegislaturestode
termine,sincetheyareaccountabletotheirelectorates.
MurderIsMurder
InGrahamv.Florida,theCourtnotedthatthereisadifferencebetweenhomicidesandnonhomicides
and thus struck down the sentence of LWOP for teenagers who committed violent nonhomicides.
Writingfor
the
majority,
Justice
Anthony
Kennedy
said:
TheCourthasrecognizedthatdefendantswhodonotkill,intendtokill,orforeseethatlifewillbetaken
arecategoricallylessdeservingofthemostseriousformsofpunishmentthanaremurderers."Thereisa
linebetweenhomicideandotherseriousviolentoffensesagainstthe individual."Seriousnonhomicide
crimes"in termsofmoraldepravityandof the injury to thepersonandto thepublic"cannotbecom
paredtomurderintheirseverityandirrevocability."Althoughanoffenselikerobberyorrapeisaseri
ouscrimedeservingseriouspunishment,thosecrimesdifferfromhomicidecrimesinamoralsense.[2]
Thus,the
Court
has
previously
drawn
aline
between
crimes
that
result
in
death
and
all
others.
The
Court
shouldpreserve thisdistinctionand rule in favorofAlabama,Arkansas,and the37other states that
currentlyallowtheuseofLWOPsentencesforteenagersconvictedofaggravatedmurder.Asthenum
bersdemonstrate,thereisanationalconsensusthatLWOPsentencesareappropriateforcertainhomi
cides.
Ultimately,though,suchpolicyconsiderationsarebetter lefttostate legislators,whoareaccountable
representativestotheirconstituents,ratherthanthejustices,whoshouldbedeterminingtherequire
mentsoflawandnotbendingtheConstitutiontocomportwiththeirpolicypreferences.
CharlesStimson isaSeniorLegalFellowandElizabethGarveyisaLegalPolicyAnalystintheCenterfor
LegalandJudicialStudiesatTheHeritageFoundation.
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MontgomeryAdvertiser(AL)
Copyright2012Gannett
March20,2012
CourttoweighlifetermforjuvenilesconvictedofmurderEvan
Miller
of
Alabama
was
14
when
he
and
an
accomplice
robbed
a
neighbor,
bludgeoned
him
with
a
baseballbatandburnedhistrailer.
ALawrenceCountyjuryconvictedhimofmurderforkillingColeCannon,52.Millerreceivedtheman
datorysentenceunderstatelawlifeinprisonwithoutparole.
TheMillercaseandasimilarcaseoutofArkansaswillbedebatedbeforetheSupremeCourttoday.The
courtwilldecidelaterwhethersentencingjuvenilesasyoungas14tolifewithoutparoleformurdervi
olatestheConstitution'sEighthAmendmentbarring"cruelandunusualpunishments."
EarlierSupremeCourtdecisionshavebarred thedeathpenalty forjuveniles. Justicesalsohave ruled
thatjuvenilescan'tbesentencedtolifeinprisonforcrimesinwhichnoonewaskilled.
IntheArkansascase,KuntrellJacksonwas14whenhetookpartina1999videostorerobberyinwhich
the clerkwas shotand killedby someoneelse.HeandMiller turned to theSupremeCourtafterex
haustingtheirappealsatthestatelevel.
BryanStevensonoftheEqualJustice Initiative inMontgomerywillrepresentMillerandJackson into
day'soralarguments.AlabamaSolicitorGeneralJohnNeimanJr.andArkansasAssistantAttorneyGen
eralKentHoltwillarguethestates'case.
TheAlabamaattorneygeneral'sofficesaysprosecutorsseek lifewithoutparole foradolescentsas
manystatelegislaturesrequirethemtoonlywhenthoseyouthscommitparticularlybrutalcrimes.
EarlierSupremeCourtrulingswerebasedona"nationalconsensusandwidelysharedmoralprinciples"
thatsentencingjuvenilestodeathorlifeinprisonwhennoonewaskilledduringthecrimeisexcessive,
thestatesaidincourtpapers.
"Thiscasepresentsnosimilarconsensusandnocompellingargumentthatthesepunishmentsarecon
trarytoprevailingvalues,"Alabamaofficialssaid."Thesesentencesareareasonablesolutiontoadiffi
cultproblem,andthevaluesunderlyingtheConstitutionshouldallowthemtostand."
Stevenson,RandallSusskindandAliciaD'Addario,allwith theEqual Justice Initiative,argued in court
papersthatjuvenilesconvictedofmurderdeservethechancetoeventually leaveprisonbecausetheir
brainsandmoralawarenessweren'tfullydevelopedwhentheycommittedtheircrimes.
TheynotedthatpreviousSupremeCourtrulingshavesaid"youthanditsattendantfeatureshaveacrit
icalroletoplayindetermininganadolescent'sculpability."
"Towhollydisregarda14yearoldoffender'sageandagerelatedcharacteristicsinsentencinghimtobe
imprisoned for the remainder of his existencemakes amockery of this fundamental precept," they
wrote.
Adolescents are impulsive risktakerswhose crimes are rooted in the circumstances inwhich they're
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raised,theattorneyswrote.
Forinstance,Millerwasphysicallyabusedbyhisfather,raisedinextremepovertyandtriedtokillhim
selfatage5,theywrote.AtthetimehekilledCannon,hehadbeendrinkingandwashighonmarijuana.
TheAmericanBarAssociation,theAmericanPsychologicalAssociation,AmnestyInternationalandother
groups
have
filed
legal
briefs
supporting
Miller
and
Jackson.
Twenty states, the territoryofGuamand theNationalOrganizationofVictimsof JuvenileLifershave
writtenthecourtsupportingthestates.
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mcall.com
SupremeCourtquestionswhetheryoungkillersshouldgetachanceforparole
MARKSHERMAN
AssociatedPress
3:58 PM EDT, March 20, 2012WASHINGTON (AP) The Supreme Court debated Tuesdaywhether
youngteenagersconvictedofkillingsomeonemaybe lockedup for lifewithnochanceofparole,the
latestinalineofcasesseekingasecondchanceforyoungpeople.Thejusticesarelookingattwocases
involvingteenagersservinglifesentences.Inone,14yearoldEvanMillerinAlabamabeataman,then
setfiretohishome.Intheother,14yearoldKuntrellJacksoninArkansasdidn'tpullthetrigger,butwas
inonanattemptedrobberyinwhichanotherboyshotandkilledastoreclerk.JusticeAnthonyKennedy
wroteearlieropinionsrulingout thedeathpenalty forjuvenilesand lifewithoutparolesentences for
young
people
whose
crimes
did
not
involve
killing.
He
seemed
again
to
be
the
pivotal
justice
in
Tues
day'sarguments.Roughly2,300peoplearebehindbarsforlifewithnochanceofwinningtheirfreedom
forcrimestheycommittedbeforetheir18birthday.Only79,however,areinprisonforcrimesthattook
placewhentheywere14oryounger.Kennedywasoneofseveraljusticeswhoappearedtobetroubled
by the lackof flexibility in sentencingyoungkillers.Several states that trypeopleyounger than18 in
adultcourtsallowforonlyonesentence,lifewithnochanceofparole,fordefendantswhoareconvict
edofmurder.Heseemedtoindicatehemightfavorarulingthatgivesjudgesaroleindeterminingan
appropriatesentence,"thatthesentencecannotbemandatory,butthatinsomecases,itmightstillbe
imposed."Bryan
Stevenson,
the
lawyer
for
both
defendants,
tried
to
resist
Kennedy's
approach,
prefer
ringanoutcomethatwouldforcestatestoconsiderparoleatsomepointforanyonewithalifesentence
whowas convictedbefore turning18.Stevenson said the courthaspreviously recognized that it is a
"mistaketoequatekidswithadults.Andwedon'thavetheabilitytomakethosejudgmentsevenifwe
createadifferentkindofprocess."ArguingforAlabama,stateSolicitorGeneralJohnNeimanJr.saidthe
courtshouldrespectthedecisionsofAlabama,Arkansasand37otherstatesthatallowchildrentobe
triedandpunishedasadults." Imposing lifewithoutparolesentencesonaggravatedmurderoffenders
likeEvanMiller is in linewiththenationalconsensus, ismorallyjustified,and isconsistentwith legiti
matepenologicalgoals,"Neimansaid.JusticesAntoninScaliaandSamuelAlitosoundedmost likelyto
votewiththestates.ScaliapepperedStevensonwithquestionsaboutwherethecourtshoulddrawthe
line."Well,youknow,onceyoudepartfromtheprinciplethatwe'veenunciatedthatdeathisdifferent,
whyislifewithoutparolecategoricallydifferentfrom60yearsor70yearsor,youknow,you'dbeback
herenexttermwitha60yearsentence?"Scaliasaid.Thecourthasarangeofoptionsavailableifthere
isamajoritytocutbackonstates'sentencingpowers.Thecourtcouldissueablanketrulingthatapplies
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to everyoneunder 18.It could set a younger cutoff age, asboth defendants at the high courtwere
14.Thejusticesalsomightthrowoutmandatorysentences,butstillallowjudgestoimposelifewithout
paroleonce they consider the circumstancesof the crime and thedefendant'sbackground.On that
point,severaljusticespointedtotheapparentdifferenceintheculpabilityofthedefendantsinthetwo
cases.
The
court
should
decide
the
cases
by
early
summer.
The
cases
are
Miller
v.
Alabama,
10
9646,
andJacksonv.Hobbs,109647.
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DoJuvenileKillersDeserveLifeBehindBars?
NinaTotenberg
March20,2012
TheU.S.SupremeCourthearsargumentsTuesdayintwohomicidecasestestingwhetheritisunconsti
tutionallycruelandunusualpunishmenttosentencea14yearoldtolifeinprisonwithoutthepossibil
ityofparole.
Therearecurrently79ofthesejuvenilekillerswhowilldie inprison.What'smore, inmanystates,the
penalty ismandatory,meaning neitherjudge norjury is allowed to consider the youngster's age or
backgroundinmetingoutthesentence.
Incasesdealingwithpunishmentforjuveniles,contextiseverything.In2005,theSupremeCourtstruck
downthedeathpenaltyforjuveniles,declaringthatkidsaredifferentfromadults.Thecourtsaidthat
becauseoftheiryouth,theirbrainsare literally lessdeveloped,theyaremore impulsive,moresubject
topeerpressureandlessabletoseetheconsequencesoftheiracts.
Twoyearsago, thecourtused thesame rationalewhen itstruckdown thepenaltyof life
withoutparolefornonhomicidecrimescommittedbyjuveniles.ButinTuesday'scases,the
courtfacesthequestionoflifewithoutparoleinhomicidecases.
Acase fromArkansas involvesa teenagerwhowasnot the triggerman.Fourteenyearold
Kuntrell Jackson and two other kids held up a video rental store.One of the other boys pointed a
sawedoffshotgunatthecashier,andwhenshethreatenedtocallthepolice,shotandkilledher.Under
Arkansas'felony
murder
law,
Jackson
was
deemed
just
as
responsible
as
the
triggerman.
He
was
tried
as
anadultforaggravatedmurderand,understatelaw,receivedamandatorysentenceoflifewithoutpa
role.
Theothercase,fromAlabama, involvesEvanMiller,aboysobrutalizedasachildthatbythetimehe
wasarrestedformurderatage14,hehadtriedtokillhimselfsixtimes,thefirsttimewhenhewas5
yearsold.
Milleranda16yearold friendwentnextdoor to thehomeofaneighborwhowasdealingdrugs to
Miller'smother.
The
neighbor,
52
year
old
Cole
Cannon,
gave
the
boys
liquor
and
marijuana.
Miller
consumedafifthofwhiskeyastheboysengaged indrinkinggameswithCannonandplannedtosteal
hiswallet.
Eventually,afightbrokeoutandtheboysseverelybeatCannon,setfiresinthetrailerandfled,ignoring
Cannon'spleas for help.Cannondiedof smoke inhalation. The 16yearold friendmade adealwith
prosecutors inexchange forhis testimony,andgot lifewithparoleeligibility.FourteenyearoldMiller
Therearecurren
ly79ofthesejuvnilekillerswhow
dieinprison.
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16/29
gotlifewithoutparole.
BryanStevenson,thelawyerwhorepresentstheboysinboth
ofthese
cases,
will
make
two
basic
arguments
before
the
SupremeCourt.Thefirst isthatamandatorypunishmentof
life without parole for a 14yearold is cruel and unusual
punishment because the defendant's age and background
areirrelevantandcannotmitigatepunishment.
Judgescan'tconsiderit.Juriescan'tconsiderit.Noonecanconsiderit,"saysStevenson.
Thestatescounterthatthejuvenile'sagehasalreadybeenconsideredbytakingthedeathpenaltyoff
thetable.
"Ifthedefendantisnotgoingtogetthedeathpenalty,thenattheveryleast,thedefendantoughtto
getlifewithoutparole"tocounterbalancetheharmhehasinflicted,saysAlabamaSolicitorGeneralJohn
Neiman.
ButthebigquestionbeforetheSupremeCourtonTuesdayiswhetherlifewithoutthepossibilityofpa
roleisitselfanunconstitutionallycruelandunusualpunishmentwhenitisappliedtojuveniles.
Defenselawyer
Stevenson
notes
that
the
American
legal
system
treats
minors
as
both
less
culpable
and
lessresponsible.Fourteenyearolds,forinstance,arenotallowedtodrink,tomarry,tovote,toserve
onjuriesoreventodrive.
"We'renotsayingthatjuvenileoffenderswhocommithomicidecan'tbepunishedseverely,"Stevenson
says."Theymayevenendupspendingtherestoftheirlivesinprison.Butit'spremature,excessiveand
unfairtosayweknowthisjuvenilewillneverberehabilitated."
Indeed,abrieffiledbytheCouncilofJuvenileCorrectionalAdministratorsandotherjuvenilecrimeex
perts
points
to
many
amazing
cases
of
rehabilitation.
Among
them
is
16
year
old
Scott
Filippi,
who
shot
hismotherbutafterhisreleasejoinedtheArmyandbecameamemberofthePresidentialHonor
Guard.
OrthereisRaphaelJohnson,whoshotandkilledaclassmatewhenhewas17,butafterhisreleasegot
bachelor'sandmaster'sdegreeswithhonorsandstartedacommunitypolicingprograminDetroit.Or
thereisLawrenceWu,a15yearoldNewYorkgangmemberwhoeventuallybecametheeditorinchief
There'snosenseindestroyingasecond
lifeifthatlifeisactuallyredeemable.If
there'sanyonewhostillhasamodicum
ofredemptionleftintheirlife,it'sa
juvenile.
CharlesDutton,sentencedtoprisonfor
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oftheColumbiaLawReview.Oneofthemostfamousofthosewhohavechangedtheirlivesis
awardwinningactorproducerCharlesDutton.Byage12,hehadquitschoolandwaslivingalifeof
fightsandcrimeonthestreetsofBaltimore.
"Ilikedgettingintrouble,"saysDutton."Ienjoyedgettinginfights.Ienjoyedthechallengeofbattle."
Byage17,hewassentencedtoprisonformanslaughter.Eveninprison,though,hecontinuedhis
fightingways,assaultingaguardandgettingeightyearsaddedtohissentence.Adecadeorsolater,he
wasonhiswayto"thehole"forsolitaryconfinementwhenhepickedupabookofplayssenttohimby
agirlfriend.Itendedupchanginghislife.Asheputsit,hefoundwhathewas"borntodo."
"Upuntilthatpointintime,Ididn'treallyconcentrateonthelifeIhadtaken,"hesays."Butonlyatthat
momentofrediscoveringmyownhumanity[couldI]gobackandhaveavery,verystrongandsincere,
heartfeltremorsefortakingthatlife."Now,fourdecadeslater,hesayshethinksofthemanhekilled
everyday
and
wonders
who
he
would
have
been.
Duttonsaysheunderstandsthedesiretoavengeaterriblecrime,but"there'snosenseindestroyinga
secondlifeifthatlifeisactuallyredeemable.Ifthere'sanyonewhostillhasamodicumofredemption
leftintheirlife,it'sajuvenile."
Thestatesthathaveadoptedlifewithoutparoleforjuvenilekillershaveaverydifferentview.
"Theonethingthatwedon'tknowiswhatthepotentialofthelifewouldbethatwassnuffedoutinthe
crime,"says
Arkansas
Attorney
General
Dustin
McDaniel.
"The
hypothetical
of
who
might
be
rehabili
tatedinprisonisahardonetoanalyze,buttherehavetobesomecircumstancesunderwhichthese
personscanservelifewithoutparole."
Indeed,AlabamaSolicitorGeneralNeimannotesthat38ofthe50statesauthorizelifewithoutparole
fora14yearoldconvictedofmurder,andthefederalgovernmentauthorizesitfor15yearolds.Partof
thejustificationforthat,heobserves,isthenotionofretribution.
"Asamoralmatter,itisOKforagovernmenttosay,evenifthereisapossibilitythatsomeonewillre
habilitatethemselves,
ifaperson
commits
asufficiently
egregious
crime,
then
they
just
deserve
avery
severesentence,"Neimansays.
DefenselawyerStevensoncountersthatinreality,only18stateshaveimposedlifewithoutparoleona
14yearold,andonly79killerswhoare14oryoungerarecurrentlyservinglifewithoutparolesentenc
es.
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ArkansasAttorneyGeneralMcDanielsaysthatevenifthosestatisticsareaccurate,andhedisputes
them,itdoesn'tprovemuch.
"It'snotbecausesocietydoesn'thavethemoralstomachtoimposethosesentences,"McDanielsays.
"It'sbecause,realistically,14yearoldsdon'tcommitalotofmurders."
Finally,thestatesarguethatlifewithoutparoleisasufficientlyseveresentencethatitwilldeteratleast
somejuvenilesfromcommittingmurder.
DefenselawyerStevensondismissesthatargument,echoingthesentimentsofmanyexpertswhodeal
withviolentjuveniles.
"Mostofmyclientshadneverheardoflifeimprisonmentwithoutparoleandhadnocapacitytoappre
ciatewhatitwouldmean,"Stevensonsays."Ittakesthemyearsbeforetheyevengetwhatitmeansto
besentenced
to
life
in
prison
without
parole,
because
they're
just
not
used
to
thinking
that
far
ahead."
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CourtWaryOfLifewithoutParoleforJuveniles
MARK SHERMAN| March 20, 2012 03:53 PM EST
WASHINGTON
The
Supreme
Court
appeared
ready
Tuesday
to
say
anew
that
young
people
who
commiteventhemostbrutalcrimesshouldnotbepunishedasharshlyasadults,takingupapairof
casesinwhich14yearoldsconvictedofmurderareservinglifesentenceswithnochanceofparole.
Thelatestinalineofcasesaskswhetheryoungteenagersfacingtherestoftheirlivesinprisondeserve
thepossibilityofasecondchance.Inrecentyears,thecourthasruledoutthedeathpenaltyforjuve
nilesandlifewithoutparoleforyoungpeoplewhosecrimesdidnotinvolvekilling.
Roughly2,300peoplearebehindbarsforlifewithnochanceofwinningtheirfreedomforcrimesthey
committed
before
their
18th
birthday.
Seventy
nine
of
them
are
in
prison
for
crimes
that
took
place
whentheywere14oryounger.
TheprecisecontoursofaneventualrulingwerenotapparentafterargumentsTuesday,butseveraljus
ticessaidtheyweretroubledbythewaysomestatestryandsentenceyoungpeopleaccusedofcrimes.
JusticeAnthonyKennedyraisedthelackofflexibilityinsentencingyoungkillers.Severalstatesthattry
peopleyoungerthan18inadultcourtsallowforonlyonesentence,lifewithnochanceofparole,for
defendantswhoareconvictedofmurder.
Kennedyseemedtoindicatehemightfavorarulingthatgivesjudgesaroleindetermininganappropri
atesentence,"thatthesentencecannotbemandatory,butthatinsomecasesitmightstillbeimposed."
Hewrotetheearlieropinionsholdingjuvenileslessresponsiblethanadultswhentheirsentencesare
considered.HeseemedagaintobethepivotaljusticeinTuesday'sarguments.
BryanStevenson,thelawyerforbothdefendants,triedtoresistKennedy'sapproach,preferringanout
comethatwouldforcestatestoconsiderparoleatsomepointforanyonewithalifesentencewhowas
convictedbeforeturning18.
Stevensonsaidthecourthaspreviouslyrecognizedthatitisa"mistaketoequatekidswithadults.And
wedon'thavetheabilitytomakethosejudgmentsevenifwecreateadifferentkindofprocess."
Allowinganinmatetobeconsideredforparoledoesn'tmeanitwillbegranted,Stevensonsaid.InNe
vada,forexample,aninmateconvictedofmurderhastoserve20yearsbeforegettingaparolehearing,
hesaid.
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ArguingforAlabamabeforethejustices,stateSolicitorGeneralJohnNeimanJr.saidthecourtshould
respectthedecisionsofAlabama,Arkansasand37otherstatesthatallowchildrentobetriedandpun
ishedasadults.
"ImposinglifewithoutparolesentencesonaggravatedmurderoffenderslikeEvanMillerisinlinewith
thenational
consensus,
is
morally
justified
and
is
consistent
with
legitimate
penological
goals,"
Neiman
said.
Neimansaidthecourtalreadyhasdrawnalinebetweencrimesinvolvingkillingandthosethatdon't.
Kennedyalsoaskedbothsidesforstatisticsonhowoftenpeoplewhoareimprisonedatayoungage
showthattheyhavebeenrehabilitated.
ButJusticeAntoninScalia,whodissentedinearlierjuvenilesentencingcases,scoffedatthenotion.
"Well,Ithoughtthatmodernpenologyhasabandonedthatrehabilitationthing,andtheynolongercall
prisonsreformatoriesorwhatever,andpunishmentisthecriterionnow.Deservedpunishmentfor
crime,"Scaliasaid.
Thecourthasarangeofoptionsifamajoritydecidestolimitstates'sentencingpowers:
_Thecourtcouldissueablanketrulingthatappliestoeveryoneunder18.
_Itcouldsetayoungercutoffage,asbothdefendantsatthehighcourtwere14.
_Thejusticesalsomightthrowoutmandatorysentencesbutstillallowjudgestoimposelifewithoutparoleoncetheyconsiderthecircumstancesofthecrimeandthedefendant'sbackground.Onthatpoint,severaljusticespointedtotheapparentdifferenceintheculpabilityof
thedefendantsinthetwocases.
Thecourtshoulddecidethecasesbyearlysummer.
The cases are Miller v. Alabama, 10-9646, and Jackson v. Hobbs, 10-9647.
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SupremeCourtRevisitsIssueofHarshSentencesforJuveniles
AdamLiptak
March20,2012
WASHINGTONAtapairofSupremeCourtargumentsonTuesday,thejusticesreturnedtotheques
tionofwhattheConstitutionhastosayaboutharshsentencesimposedonjuvenileoffenders.
Amajorityofthemappearedpreparedtotakeanadditionalstepinlimitingsuchpunishments,butit
wasnotclearwhetheritwouldbemodestorlarge.Thecourtsprecedentshavecreatedsomanyover
lappingcategoriesbasedonage,thenatureoftheoffenseandwhetherjudgesandjurieshavedis
cretiontoshowleniencythatmuchoftheargumentwasdevotedtoidentifyingthepossiblelinesthe
courtcoulddraw.
In2005,inRoperv.Simmons,thecourtabolishedthejuveniledeathpenalty,adecisionthataffected
about70prisoners.Itisworthnoting,thatdecisionsaid,thatthepunishmentoflifeimprisonment
withoutthepossibilityofparoleisitselfaseveresanction,inparticularforayoungperson.
In2010,inGrahamv.Florida,thecourtruledthatsentencingjuvenileoffenderstolifewithoutthepos
sibilityofparolealsoviolatedtheEighthAmendmentsbanoncruelandunusualpunishmentbutonly
forcrimesthatdidnotinvolvekillings.Thedecisionaffectedabout130prisonersconvictedofcrimes
likerape,armedrobberyandkidnapping.
ThemajorityopinionsinbothcaseswerewrittenbyJusticeAnthonyM.Kennedy,whosaidteenagers
deservedmorelenienttreatmentthanadultsbecausetheyareimmature,impulsive,susceptibletopeer
pressureand
able
to
change
for
the
better
over
time.
Bryan
A.
Stevenson,
alawyer
with
the
Equal
Jus
ticeInitiative,whichrepresentedbothdefendantsinTuesdaysarguments,saidthatlogicshouldapply
inatleastsomecasesinvolvingkillings.
Thetwocasesthejusticesconsideredconcerneddefendantswhowere14whentheywereinvolvedin
killings.AccordingtotheEqualJusticeInitiative,thereareabout80prisonersservingsentencesoflife
withoutparoleformurderscommittedwhentheywere14oryounger.
Onecase,Millerv.Alabama,No.109646,involvedEvanMiller,anAlabamamanwhowas14in2003
whenhe
and
an
older
youth
beat
a52
year
old
neighbor
and
set
fire
to
his
home
after
the
three
had
spenttheeveningsmokingmarijuanaandplayingdrinkinggames.Theneighbordiedofsmokeinhala
tion.
Theother,Jacksonv.Hobbs,No.109647,concernedKuntrellJackson,anArkansasmanwhowas14
whenheandtwoolderyouthstriedtorobavideostorein1999.Oneoftheotheryouthsshotandkilled
astoreclerk.
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KentG.Holt,anassistantstateattorneygeneralinArkansas,saidthevictim,LaurieTroup,was28.Her
bodywasfoundbyhermotherandher11yearoldson.
Thepunishmentforthiscrimereinforcesthesanctityofhumanlife,Mr.Holtsaid,anditexpresses
thestatesmoraloutragethatsomethinglikethiscouldhappen.
JusticeRuthBaderGinsburgrespondedthattherewereimportantvaluesonMr.Jacksonsside,too.
Yousaythesanctityofhumanlife,shetoldMr.Holt,butyouredealingwitha14yearoldbeing
sentencedtolifeinprison,sohewilldieinprisonwithoutanyhope.Imean,essentially,youremakinga
14yearoldthrowawayperson.
Mr.Stevensonlaterpickeduponthepoint.Hesaidhisrequestwasinonesensemodest.
Wearenotsuggestingthatstatesshouldnotbeabletoimposeveryharshpunishmentsandveryse
veresentences
on
even
children
who
commit
these
kinds
of
violent
crimes,
he
said.
Theycanevenimposesentencesthatgivethemtheauthoritytomaintaincontrolofthelivesofthese
childrenfortherestoftheirnaturallives,hesaid.Whatwearearguingisthattheycannotdosowith
nohopeofrelease,thatthatwouldbeincompatiblewithchildstatus.
JohnC.NeimanJr.,Alabamassolicitorgeneral,saidthesortsofparolehearingsthatMr.Stevenson
soughtimposedburdens.
Theresreallynocosttosocietyatleastinallowingthatprocesstooccur,Mr.Neimansaid,butthe
costistothevictimsandtheirfamilies,whohavetoendurewhatareoftenverypainfulhearings.
Muchoftheargumentconcernedthelinesthecourtmightdraw.Itcouldprohibitsentencesoflife
withoutparoleforoffendersyoungerthan15.Oritcouldbarthepunishmentforalljuvenileoffenders,
whichwouldaffectmorethan2,000prisoners.
ThecourtcouldalsobarsentencesoflifewithoutparolefordefendantslikeMr.Jackson,whowasan
accompliceandnotthegunman,whileleavingthemavailablefordefendantslikeMr.Miller,whoactu
allycommittedthekilling.Oritcouldbarmandatorysentences,whicharecommon,andrequirejudges
andjuries
to
take
account
of
the
defendants
youth.
Mr.StevensonsaidthecourtshouldextenditsrulingintheGrahamcasetobarallsentencesoflife
withoutparoleforcrimescommittedbyjuveniles.
Ifthecourtisnotpreparedtodothat,hesaid,itshouldbarsuchsentencesforoffendersyoungerthan
15andbarmandatorysentencesoflifewithoutparoleforalljuvenileoffenders.
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Justicesmullwhetherlifewithoutparoleappropriateforunderagekillers
By Bill Mears, CNN Supreme Court Producer
updated 5:20 PM EDT, Tue March 20, 2012
Washington(CNN) TheSupremeCourtstruggledTuesday,speakinginsombertones,whenconfront
ingone
of
its
toughest
criminal
sentencing
questions:
whether
two
men
convicted
of
killings
committed
whentheywere14deservelifeinprisonwithoutthepossibilityofparole.
Thejusticesseemedtofindlittleagreementonhowyoungistooyoungintheserareinstances,and
whetheritwouldbecruelandunusualpunishmenttoforgothechancethatthesenowadultinmates
maysomedayberehabilitated.
"What'sthedefinitionofachild?"askedJusticeSamuelAlito,tryingtodrawaconstitutionallyaccepta
blelineonmandatorysentencesforunderagemurderers.
"Itseemstomesomeoftheissuesthatwehavesuggestedjustifyadifferenttreatmentofjuveniles
havetodowithmentaldevelopment,"saidChiefJusticeJohnRoberts."Andthosesameissueswouldbe
takenintoaccountbyajuryinconsideringwhichofalistofoffensesthejuvenileshouldbeconvicted
of."
Thehighcourtin2005bannedthedeathpenaltyforthoseunder18whocommitaggravatedmurder.
Then,fiveyearslater,thejusticessaidjuvenilesfoundguiltyofnonhomicidescouldnotreceivelife
withoutparole.
Nowthespotlightturnsontheyoungestofkillersandthequestionofwhetheranationalconsensushas
developedtotreatthemdifferentlyregardingalifetimeofincarceration.
TheseparateappealsinvolveanAlabamaboywho,withanaccomplice,robbedaneighborandthen
beatthemantodeathandsethishouseonfire;andanArkansasyouthwhowaspartofagroupof
teenswhorobbedavideostorewheretheclerkwasblastedtodeathwithashotgun.
Bothweretriedandconvictedasadultsandreceivedtheminimumsentencesallowedunderstatelaw
forfelony
capital
murder.
Thereareabout2,500prisonersservinglifesentenceswithoutparoleforcrimescommittedasjuveniles,
atleast79ofwhomare14yearsoryounger,accordingtotheEqualJusticeInitiative,whichisrepre
sentingthetwomenbeforethehighcourt.
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AttorneyBryanStevensonurgedthejusticesnotto"giveup"onchildoffenders,whohesaidarefun
damentallydifferentfromadults.Hesaidwhiletheymustbeheldaccountablefortheiractions,youths
arealsoworksinprogress,emotionallyanddevelopmentally.
"Thesedeficitsinmaturityandjudgmentanddecisionmakingarenotcrimespecific.Allchildrenare
encumberedwith
the
same
barriers
that
this
court
has
found
to
be
constitutionally
relevant
before
im
positionofasentenceoflifeimprisonmentwithoutparoleorthedeathpenalty,"saidStevenson,whois
basedinMontgomery,Alabama."Thesedifferencesareevenmorepronouncedinyoungchildren."
JusticeAntoninScaliajumpedin."Onceyoudepartfromtheprinciplethatwe'veenunciatedthat(the)
death(penalty)isdifferent,whyislifewithoutparolecategoricallydifferentfrom60yearsor70years?
You'dbebackherenextterm(challenging)a60yearsentence."Hewonderedaloudwhetheritwould
befairtoargue14yearoldsdeservelesstimebehindbarsthana15yearold.
Stevensonsaid
firmly
all
those
under
18
at
the
time
of
their
crimes
deserve
the
chance
for
parole
someday.Hesaidtheoftenterriblefactsofamurdercanoverwhelmanymitigatingfactorslikeade
fendant'sage,especiallyforjurorswhomaybeunawarethatayoungperson'sbraindevelopment,living
environmentandselfcontrolareoftennotcomplete.
"Youwouldsaythatapersonof17yearsand11months,whocommitstheworstpossiblestringofof
fenses anddemonstratesgreatmaturity stillcannotbesentencedtolifeimprisonmentwithoutpa
role?"askedAlito,soundingskeptical.
"Whatjustifies
an
absolute
ban
at
acertain
age
and
amodified
ban
above
an
age?"
added
Justice
Ruth
BaderGinsburg.
Scaliasaid39statesallowjuvenilestoreceivelifewithoutparoleforcertainmurderoffenses."The
Americanpeoplehavedecidedthatthat'stherule.Theyallowit.Andthefederalgovernmentallowsit.
SoI'msupposedtoimposemyjudgmentonwhatseemstobeaconsensusoftheAmericanpeople?"
Later,theAlabamasolicitorgeneralsaidstatesdeservediscretiontosetpunishmentsfortheworstof
offenders,eventeenagers.
"Thegovernment'sprimarygoalhereisexpressingtheretributivejudgmentaboutthewrongfulnessof
murderandwhyit'sdifferent,"saidJohnNeimanJr."Theydon'twanttorollthediceonconvicted
murderers.Societyactswithparticularrevulsionwhenaconvictedmurderercommitsacrimeagain"
afterbeingreleasedfromcustody,hesaid.
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"Howdoyougobacktojustifying,"saidJusticeSoniaSotomayor,"themandatorynatureoflifeimpris
onmentwithoutparole,giventhatnoteveryjuvenileisequalandnoteverymurderisequalwithre
specttothem?"
JusticeStephenBreyerpressedthequestionfurther,asking,"What'stheminimumage,inyouropinion,
oris
there
any
constitutional
minimum
at
all
in
respect
to
which
you
could
give"
life
without
parole
to
a
youngkiller.
"Imean,youcouldhaveaninstanceofa10yearoldoran8yearold.Imean,isittotallyuptothe
states,oristhereaminimum?"Breyersaid.
Neimanranintotroublewhenbackedintothislegalcorner,suggesting,"IfIwerethestateupheretry
ingtodefenda12yearold(gettinglifewithoutparole),Iwouldarguethatthatwastheline.Soa
12yearold well,no well,yes,"hefinallydecided.
"Doyouseethedifficulty?Allright.Sonowputyourselfinmyposition,"respondedBreyer."Doyou
wanttosay12?Doyouwanttosay10?Doyouwanttosay9?Becauseassoonaswhateveryousay,I'm
goingtosay:andwhynot14?"headded.
JusticeAnthonyKennedy ashehasinmanydividedcases mayprovetobethedecidingvote.Buthe
seemedtroubledaboutarticulatinganappropriateagelimit.
"Now,wehavesomequitecompellingstoriesofrehabilitationinthiscase.Idon'tknowifthey'reiso
lated;Idon't
know
where
they
are
in
the
statistical
universe
of
how
often
rehabilitation
is
demonstrated
andisreal.WhatdoIlookat?What'sajudgesupposedtodo?"heaskedStevenson."You'rejustforcing
usintoabipolarposition.We'reeithergoingtosaythatyoucan'tprevailatallorthateveryoneunder
18cannotgetlifewithoutparole.Idon'tseethismiddlecourse."
Complicatingmatters,severaljusticesnoteddifferencesbetweenthetwocasesbeforethem.Neiman
notedthemurdercommittedbyEvanMillerinAlabamawasespecially"gruesome."Theboyandhisac
complicehadsmokedmarijuanawiththevictiminhistrailer.The52yearoldmanburnedtodeathafter
themobilehomewassetablaze.
InKuntrellJackson'scase,hewasoriginallyoutsideasalookoutwhentheChickasawCounty,Arkansas,
robberytookplace.Itwasa15yearoldboywhoshotthefemaleclerkwhensherefusedtoturnover
money.Theactualshooterlaterpleadedguiltyandreceivedlifewiththepossibilityofparole.
StevensonsaidtherewasarealquestionwhetherJacksonhadan"intenttokill"duringthebotched
robbery,perhapsallowingforalessersentence.
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ButtheArkansasassistantattorneygeneralsaidthesentenceoflifewithoutparolewasstillappropriate,
arguingthedefendantcouldhavereceivedthedeathpenaltyifhehadbeenanadultatthetimeofthe
crime.
"Alegislativejudgmenthasbeenmadewithregardtodrawingabaselineforallmurderers,whether
theyare
juvenile
murderers,
whether
they
are
getaway
drivers,"
said
Kent
Holt.
"And
when
you
counsel
oraidordoanythingthatgetsyouliabilityforbeingacapitalmurderer,thenthatistheminimumsen
tence" lifewithoutparole,withnoexceptions.
ThecasesareMillerv.Alabama(109646)andJacksonv.Hobbs(109647).Rulingsareexpectedwithin
thenextthreemonths.
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Do14yearoldkillersdeservelifewithoutparole?SupremeCourthearscases.
SupremeCourtJusticeKennedyisseenasthepotentialswingvoteintwocasesquestioningwhetherlife
withoutparolefor14yearoldkillersiscruelandunusualpunishment.
JusticeAnthonyKennedytookcenterstageTuesdayastheUSSupremeCourtbeganexaminingtwo
casestestingwhetherlifeinprisonwithoutparoleiscruelandunusualpunishmentforsomeonewho
committedmurderatage14.
MuchofthetwohoursofargumentinthecasesfromArkansasandAlabamaweredirectedatJustice
Kennedy,whoiswidelyseenaswieldingthepotentialswingvotethatcouldwinthecaseforeitherside.
Basedonhisquestions,Kennedyappearstobesearchingforameanstoruleforthetwojuvenilesand
somehowinvalidatethemandatoryimpositionoflifewithoutparoleforsomecategoryofyoungof
fenders.
Sucharulingwouldextendthesamereasoningembracedbythehighcourtintwolandmarkcasesin
volvingjuveniles,anditwouldaddanotherprecedenttoanemergingjurisprudenceofjuvenilepunish
ment.
In2005,thehighcourtinvalidatedthedeathpenaltyforthoseage18andyounger.Fiveyearslater,the
courtagaincitedthesamereasoningandruledthatsentencingajuveniletolifewithoutparolefora
nonhomicidecrimealsoviolatedtheEighthAmendmentsbanoncruelandunusualpunishment.
Bothcasesweredecidedby5to4votes,andbothwerewrittenbyJusticeKennedy.
Nowthejusticesarebeingaskedtoextendthatsamereasoningyetagain,thistimetobartheimposi
tionoflifewithoutparolesentencestoconvictedmurdererswhowere14yearsoldatthetimeoftheir
crime.
Wearenotsuggestingthatstatesshouldnotbeabletoimposeveryharshpunishmentsandveryse
veresentencesonevenchildrenwhocommitthesekindsofviolentcrimes,BryanStevenson,
aMontgomery,Ala.,attorney,toldthejustices.
Whatwearearguingisthattheycannotdoso[whileofferingthem]nohopeofrelease,hesaid.
Stevensontold
the
court
that
young
offenders
are
less
culpable
than
adults
for
the
crimes
they
commit.
Studieshaveshownthatbiologicallyandpsychologically,teensaremoresusceptibletopeerpressure
andmorepronetoimpulsiveandrecklessbehavior.Studiesshowthattheirjudgmentandcharacterare
notyetfullyformed.
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Thesefactorsmustbeconsideredinmetingoutappropriatepunishmentforcrimes,Stevensonsaid.His
argumentwasntsimplyforleniency.Hesaidlifeinprisonwiththepossibilityofparolecouldbeanap
propriatesentenceincertaincases.
Buthesaidthatsendinga14yearoldtoprisonwithnohopeofreleaseiscruelandunusualunderthe
ConstitutionsEighth
Amendment.
Itwouldbecrueltodeclarethesechildrenfitonlytodieinprisongivenwhatwenowknowabouttheir
status,abouttheirdevelopment,andabouttheirpotential,hesaid.
UrgingthehighcourttoupholdAlabamassentencingscheme,thestatessolicitorgeneral,John
Neiman,saiditshouldbeuptostatelawmakerstodecidewhethertopunishthestatesworstcriminals
withamandatorysentenceoflifewithoutparoleevenwhentheyareasyoungas14.
Thegovernmentsprimarygoalhereisexpressingtheretributivejudgmentaboutthewrongfulnessof
murder,
he
said.
I
think
governments
are
quite
legitimate
and
quite
reasonable
when
they
also
say
thattheydontwanttorollthediceonconvictedmurderers.
ArkansasAssistantAttorneyGeneralKentHoltofferedaslightlydifferentargument.Thepunishment
forthiscrimereinforcesthesanctityofhumanlifeanditexpressesthestatesmoraloutrage,hetold
thejustices.
Yousaythesanctityofhumanlife,butyouaredealingwitha14yearoldbeingsentencedtolifein
prison,sohewilldieinprisonwithoutanyhope,JusticeRuthBaderGinsburgreplied.Imean,essen
tially,youremakinga14yearoldathrowawayperson.
SolicitorGeneralNeimantoldthejusticesthattherewouldbeasignificantcosttoforcingstatestore
vivetheirparolesystemsforcertainoffenses.
Whynotjustlettheseguysgettheirparolehearings,givethemhope,andlikelytheywontgetparole
anyway,Mr.Neimansaid,highlightingthecounterargumentthatgrantingparolehearingsisrelatively
costfree.
Thecostistothevictimsandtheirfamilieswhohavetoendurewhatareoftenverypainfulparole
hearings,hesaid.
Whenthosecomeuponafrequentbasis,thatsortofretraumatizationprocessissomethingthatgov
ernmentscanlegitimatelytakeintoaccountwhentheydecideforaggravatedmurderthata
lifewithoutparolesentenceisanappropriatesentence,Neimansaid.
Currentlythereareanestimated79individualsinAmericanprisonsservingalifesentencewithoutthe
possibilityofparoleforcrimestheycommittedwhentheywere14yearsold.
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Roughly2,300individualsareservinglifewithoutparoleforcrimescommittedwhentheywereyounger
than18yearsold.
Thirtyeightstatesandthefederalgovernmentallowlifewithoutparolesentencesforthose14andold
er.Twentysixstateshavemadethesentencemandatory.
Thecasesatthehighcourtinvolvetwoyoungoffendersconvictedofmurder.
KuntrellJacksonwas14whenheandtwofriendstriedtorobavideoshopinBlytheville,Ark.,in1999.
TwooftheboysconfrontedtheshopkeeperwithashotgunanddemandedmoneywhileMr.Jackson
stoodattheshopdoorway.Whentheshopkeeperdeniedhavinganymoney,Jacksonallegedlywalked
intotheshoptothecounterandtoldtheshopkeeper:Weaintplayin.
Theteenwiththegunagaindemandedmoney.Whentheshopkeeperthreatenedtocallpolice,shewas
shotintheheadandkilled.Theboysranfromthestorewithoutanymoney.Althoughhewasnotthe
triggerman,Jackson
was
deemed
to
have
played
asignificant
enough
role
in
the
killing
to
warrant
a
sentenceoflifewithoutthepossibilityofparole.
ThesecondcaseinvolvesEvanMiller,whowas14atthetimeheanda16yearoldfrienddecidedtorob
Mr.Millersneighbor.Theplanwastogettheneighbordrunkandstealmoneyfromhiswallet.
TheneighborawokeasMillerattemptedtoslipthenowemptywalletbackintohispocket.Theneigh
borgrabbedMillerbythethroatandafightbrokeout.Millerandhisfriendbeattheneighborwitha
baseballbatandthensethistraileronfire.
Asthesmokeandflamesgrewmoreintense,theboysheardtheneighborcoughing.Thefriendstarted
backtopullthemanfromtheflames,butMillerallegedlystoppedhim.
Theneighbordiedofsmokeinhalation.ThefriendlatertestifiedagainstMiller,whowasconvictedand
sentencedtolifeinprisonwithoutparole.