JuvenileLifewithoutParole InMassachuse s

ACLUofMassachuse s CenterforPublicRepresenta on ChildrensLawCenterof Massachuse s(CLCM) ChildrensLeagueofMassachuse s ChildrensMentalHealthCampaign Ci zensforJuvenileJus ce(CfJJ) Commi eeforPublicCounselServices DorchesterYouthCollabora ve LawyersCommi eeforCivilRights LouisD.BrownPeaceIns tute Massachuse sAssocia onofCriminal DefenseLawyers(MACDL) Massachuse sAssocia onofCourt AppointedA orneys(MACAA) Massachuse sBarAssocia on(MBA) Massachuse sPsychological Associa on Massachuse sPTA Mass.SocietyforthePreven onof CrueltytoChildren(MSPCC) Na onalAssocia onofSocial Workers,Massachuse s(NASW) OceoftheChildAdvocate Parent/ProfessionalAdvocacy League(PPAL) PrisonersLegalServicesof Massachuse s ROCA,Inc. RoxburyYouthworks St.DismasCommi ee TheHomeforLi leWanderers UnitedTeenEquityCenter(UTEC), Lowell

More than 40% of youth sentenced to life without parole were rst me oenders! Many cases also involve felony murder, meaning that the person convicted did not actually cause the vic ms death. In Massachuse s, Life withoutParoleisimposedonteensasyoungas14.

In Massachuse s, Life without Parole means that the juvenile will grow up, growold,anddieinprison.Thissentencingpolicyisamongthetoughestinthe UnitedStatesandhasbeenrejectedbynearlyeveryothercountryintheworld. Juvenilessentencedtolifeinprisonwillservetwiceaslongastheaverageadult servingthesamesentence. The part of the brain that regulates impulse control and emo onal response (the prefrontal cortex) develops un l the mid twen es. As a result, teens cannot weigh short term risks and long term consequences in the same way that adults do, and research shows that imposing adult sentences on juveniles doesnotdeteryouthcrime. Youth are uniquely capable of rehabilita on and change because they are s ll cogni vely developing. The vast majority of youth mature out of atrisk behaviors as they grow up even those who have commi ed serious oenses. The Supreme Court has recognized that because of this, adolescents are less culpablethanadults. As a result of Massachuse s illegal, mandatory lifewithoutparole sentencing scheme for youth as young as 14, there are 64 people serving an uncons tu onal sentence. This is 6 mes more than all other states in the Northeastcombined!Itwillcosttaxpayerswellover$140 milliontothepeople currentlyservingthissentence,overthecourseoftheirlives.

Everyoneagreesthatteensmustbeheldaccountablefortheir ac ons,butsentencingprac cesshouldalsotakeintoaccount teenagersuniquecapacityforchangeandgrowth.

U.S.DepartmentofJus ce,BureauofJus ceSta s cs.Na onalCorrec onsRepor ngProgram,1997:[UnitedStates]{Computerle}. ConductedbyU.S.DepartmentofCommerce,BureauoftheCensus.2ndICPSRed.AnnArbor,MI:InteruniversityConsor umforPoli cal andSocialResearch[produceranddistributor],2000ANDU.S.DepartmentofJus ce,BureauofJus ceSta s cs,andU.S.Departmentof Jus ce,FederalBureauofPrisons.

Grahamv.Florida,560U.S.___(2010).

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