Life sentences without parole: too cruel to the young

[FR7 Baptist]

When the Supreme Court ruled in 2005 that executing juveniles amounted to cruel and unusual punishment, the author of the majority opinion, Justice Anthony M. Kennedy, made two convincing arguments: that juveniles are less capable of appreciating the consequences of their actions than are adults (something every parent knows) and that putting them to death violated "evolving standards of decency." On Monday the court, again in an opinion by Kennedy, rightly concluded that the same considerations make it unconstitutional to sentence minors to life in prison without the possibility of parole for offenses other than murder.

By a 6-3 vote, the court overturned the sentence of Terrance Jamar Graham, who was sentenced to life in prison after committing an armed burglary of a restaurant and a home invasion. Graham was 16 when he committed the first crime and 17 at the time of the second. The sentencing judge, while professing sympathy for Graham's "family structure" — both of his parents were crack addicts — leapt to the conclusion that "you have decided that this is the way you are going to live your life and that the only thing I can do now is to try and protect the community from your actions."

Article Link

 

[Revmitchell]

In a 5-4 ruling, the Supreme Court ruled Monday that juvenile criminals cannot be sentenced to life in prison with no chance at parole for crimes other than homicide because it violates their Eighth Amendment right against Cruel and Unusual Punishment.

More Here

I wonder why the discrepancy

 

[FR7 Baptist]

More Here

I wonder why the discrepancy

I'm surprised that John Roberts voted to overturn the sentence.

 

[Revmitchell]

LAT says it was a 6-3 vote, Fox says it was a 5-4 vote. Wonder why

 

[Revmitchell]

I'm surprised that John Roberts voted to overturn the sentence.

"Chief Justice Roberts agreed with the liberal majority only that the defendant in this particular case deserved a chance for parole. But he disagreed with its sweeping ruling that all violent juveniles must be given a chance for parole unless they succeeded in killing their victim. He cited the examples of nightmarishly evil people who will now be given an opportunity for parole thanks to the Supreme Court:"

http://www.openmarket.org/2010/05/1...olent-juveniles-citing-international-opinion/


Roberts only agreed that this single case should be overturned. He does not agree that this is cruel and unusual punishment. The Fox report is the correct one.

 

[JPPT1974]

Well if it is like in-between 13-17 and the crime is brutal or all of that, then try them as adults. But if it is like 13 and under, and if they haven't been in trouble with the law before, then it is way too strict and too cruel. But it all depends on their crime and if they had been in trouble with the law before.

 

[Salty]

LAT says it was a 6-3 vote, Fox says it was a 5-4 vote. Wonder why

Well as the Fox slogan says: "... you decide"