Should Juvenile Offenders Receive Protection Against Life Sentences?

 Posted on March 28, 2022 in Criminal Law

Minors who are charged with criminal offenses will often struggle to protect their rights during the legal process. In many cases, prosecutors will seek harsh sentences, and if a person is convicted, they may be required to spend significant time in prison, and they may also experience multiple types of collateral consequences after being released. Advocates for criminal justice reform are working to address the practices followed by prosecutors, and one issue that has been highlighted recently involves life sentences for minors who are tried as adults for violent crimes.

Prosecutors Recommend Limits on Life Sentences for Juveniles

Recently, a coalition of prosecutors who work at the federal, state, and local levels suggested that the United States should limit the use of life sentences without parole for juvenile offenders. The group urged Attorney General Merrick Garland to review cases where prosecutors seek these types of sentences and only allow these harsh penalties in cases where a juvenile offender is incapable of rehabilitation. It also suggested that for all other juvenile offenders, sentences should be limited to no more than 30 years.

This proposal is based on psychological research that has shown that young people are less likely to fully understand the consequences of their actions. Minors whose brains are still developing may commit criminal offenses without realizing the effects that their actions may have on themselves or others, and they may be swayed into participating in crimes due to peer pressure. Since most young people are capable of change, they will often be able to participate in rehabilitation programs that will help them avoid criminal activity in the future, while also serving as a positive example for others. It is important to give young people the chance to better themselves, address their past mistakes, and become positive members of society.

Matters related to sentencing for juvenile offenders are especially important to address in our current justice system due to the fact that minors are often subjected to unfair and inappropriate treatment by police officers that may lead to wrongful convictions. In many cases, officers use coercion and threats when interrogating minors who do not have a lawyer or parent present, and they often lie or use other abusive tactics to extract confessions. When minors are convicted based on false confessions, they may face harsh sentences, and they may spend years or decades in prison as they fight to prove their innocence and be exonerated of crimes that they did not commit.

Contact Our Connecticut Juvenile Criminal Defense Lawyer

Minors who are accused of crimes will need representation from a lawyer who is experienced in these types of cases. With an attorney on their side, they will be able to protect their rights during police interrogations or a criminal trial. At Woolf Law Firm, LLC, we work to ensure that juvenile offenders are treated fairly, and we are prepared to advocate on behalf of our clients help them resolve their cases successfully. Contact our Hartford juvenile crimes attorney at 860-290-8690 to set up a free, confidential consultation.

Sources:

https://www.npr.org/2022/02/17/1081391035/prosecutors-push-u-s-to-limit-life-sentences-for-juveniles

https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/policing/2022/03/08/police-tactics-kids-deception-threats/6895477001/