According to the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) the judicial sytems across the country sentence children as young as 13-years-old to life without parole. Right now, at least 2,750 children are in jail without the possibility of parole. While their crimes may be as serious as murder, children this young should not be judged by the same standards that their adult counterparts face. It's time to stop locking them up and throwing away the key!
Studies prove that the brains of children and teenagers are significantly different than the brain of an adult. According to these studies, the human brain is not fully developed until the age of 25. In the meantime, the teenage brain is "impulsive, aggressive and has little concept of long term consequences."
This knowledge has led the U.S. Supreme Court to rule against mandatory life without parole sentencing. However, not all states have adopted this ruling in its court systems.
Please ask the U.S. House of Representatives Judiciary Committee to create widespread legislation ending Juvenile Life Without Parole sentencing across the nation!
Dear Honorable Judiciary Committee Members, U.S. House of Representatives
We (the undersigned) do not agree with the practice of sentencing children as young as 13-years-old to life in prison without the possibility of parole. While we understand that children do sometimes committ crimes for which an adult would be sentenced to life without parole, scientific evidence proves that the human brain does not fully develop until age 25. Up to this age, the human brain is more impulsive and aggressive than that of an adult.
Though the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled against sentencing children to life without parole, not all states have legislation prohibiting this inhumane punishment.
Please create sweeping legislation abolishing this type of sentencing from occurring.
Sincerely,
