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Life Without Parole? Not for Children

06/04/2009

WASHINGTON - As the U.S. House Judiciary Committee holds hearings on proposed legislation to revise sentencing rules for children who are convicted of crimes for which they receive life without parole, the select list of invited experts providing testimony includes a Baylor University Law School professor...

...Currently, the United States is one of only two countries in the world known to sentence offenders under aged 18 to life without parole. More than 2,500 youth offenders are currently serving such sentences in the U.S., and the estimated rate at which the sentence of life without parole is imposed on children nationwide remains at least three times higher today than it was 15 years ago. Black children are 10 times more likely to receive a life-without-parole sentence than white children.

"More than half of the juveniles who receive life without parole are first-time offenders, and many are in prison for crimes short of murder," Osler says. "Interestingly, the only other country which hasn't signed a convention outlawing such sentences is Somalia. So, it's us and the country that supports pirates. Is that really the kind of company the United States wants to keep?"

Read full story here

WE NEED YOUR HELP

HF 43 and SF 74 have been introduced in Iowa in the 2009 Iowa Legislature. The bill amends the sentence of those who commit a class A felony under the age of 18 to serving 15 years as a certainty. They are then added to the parole list with a review every 2 years.

The bill does include those currently serving and all who may in the future receive the sentence. The Coalition needs help lobbying the proposed legislation (either in person or by mail). If you can help with this important task please email phyllis.stevens@yahoo.com and she will send you instructions and a lobby kit.

To read HF 43 LINK. To read SF 74 LINK.

The State of Iowa currently has 44 inmates who were below the age of 18 when they committed their offenses and are serving life without the possibility of parole.

Petition in Support of HR4300
Ending Juvenile Life Without Parole

The United States is the only nation on earth that sentences its children to life without parole (LWOP). We have nearly 2500 children sentenced to die in prison, including some as young as 13. Children are NOT adults. All studies show that teen brains are not fully developed, and that they do not have the maturity to always make rational, reasoned decisions. The United States Supreme Court stated that children should not be held to the same level of culpability as adults. HR4300 would give children sentenced to life the opportunity for parole once in 15 years. We support HR4300. Please sign the petition to show your support of HR 4300.

Petition LINK

 

About Us

The Organization began in November 2006 by a group of four individual activists in Des Moines, Iowa. The Coalition is made up of groups of individuals and organizations who support the elimination of the sentence of life without the possibility of parole for children in the state of Iowa.

Our Mission

The mission of the Iowa Coalition to oppose Life without the Possibility of Parole for children is to eliminate the sentence of life without the possibility of parole for children in the state of Iowa.

Our goal is to introduce and pass legislation to abolish the sentence of life without the possibility of parole for children and to include legislation with a retroactive provision enabling current child offenders serving life without the possibility of parole the chance for their cases to be reviewed for reassessment and re-sentenced to a sentence with the possibility of parole.

Through education and outreach both to government and non-governmental organizations and agencies and the public at large, by building a statewide coalition of supporters, lobbying, educating, and working with legislators and encouraging both the Attorney General’s office and the Governor’s office to support proposed legislation we believe we can set the stage and accomplish our mission to end the sentence of life without the possibility of parole for children in the state of Iowa.

Recommended Videos on Juvenile Justice

1.) Teens Sentenced to Life in Prison  

2.) Seeking Fairness For Iowa's Teens

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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