teens don't deserve

8/12/2019 Teens Don't Deserve

1/29

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.


2/29

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.


3/29

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.


4/29

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.


5/29

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.


6/29

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.


7/29

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."


8/29

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.


9/29

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.


10/29

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.


11/29

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


12/29

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.


13/29

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


14/29

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.


15/29

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.


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


17/29

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.


18/29

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."


19/29

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.


20/29

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.


21/29

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.


22/29

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.


23/29

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.


24/29

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.


25/29

"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.


26/29

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.


28/29

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.


29/29

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.

teens don't deserve

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