California, Barbary Coast for Juveniles
Image from Flickr, by takomabibelot |
The U.S. is the only nation in the world that sentences juveniles to life in prison without the possibility of parole. California has 309 juveniles serving such life sentences, more than any other state. Many of these youths were found guilty of crimes committed with adults, yet the adults received lighter sentences.
A new bill that would give juvenile lifers a second lease on life recently passed the California Assembly. Under the legislation, sponsored by Leland Yee, of San Francisco,