[link removed] [[link removed]]
John,
The Sentencing Project released a report [[link removed]] that finds a large portion of people sentenced to die in prison were emerging adults 25 and younger when sentenced to life without parole (LWOP), despite irrefutable evidence that their younger age contributes to diminished capacity to comprehend the risk and consequences of their actions.
“ Left to Die in Prison: Emerging Adults 25 and Younger Sentenced to Life without Parole [[link removed]] ” finds that the peak age at conviction for people sentenced to LWOP was 23-years-old, falling well within the period of emerging adulthood. Emerging adults share many key developmental characteristics with adolescents under age 18. Despite their serious crimes, these individuals have tremendous potential for growth and opportunity.
The Sentencing Project analyzed nearly 30,000 life-without-parole (LWOP) sentences imposed over a 22-year period in 20 states, comprising approximately 70% of the total LWOP population. The study found:
*
Two
in
five
people
sentenced
to
LWOP
were
25
and
younger
at
the
time
of
their
sentence,
amounting
to
more
than
11,000
people
sentenced
over
this
period.


*
The
peak
age
at
conviction
for
people
sentenced
to
LWOP
was
23-years-old,
falling
well
within
the
period
of
emerging
adulthood.


*
Two-thirds
of
those
sentenced
to
LWOP
as
emerging
adults
were
Black,
revealing
that
being
young
and
Black
appears
to
be
associated
with
a
greater
likelihood
of
receiving
LWOP
than
the
trends
we
observe
among
older
people
sentenced
to
LWOP.
U.S. courts have ruled that people under 18 should be protected against the cruelest sentences because of limits in their brain development. The report authors recommend extending this understanding to the full class of individuals who fall into this stage of development. Specifically, we recommend that the U.S. eliminate the use of LWOP and impose a sentence cap at 15 years for people 25 and younger.
Read the report [[link removed]]
[[link removed]] Ashley Nellis
Co-Director of Research
Email: [email protected]
Donate [[link removed]]
[link removed] [[link removed]] [link removed] [[link removed]] [link removed] [[link removed]] [link removed] [[link removed]] The Sentencing Project
1705 DeSales St. NW
8th Fl
Washington, DC 20036
United States
www.sentencingproject.org [[link removed]] If you believe you received this message in error or wish to no longer receive email from us, please unsubscribe: [link removed] .