High court to look at life in prison for juveniles

[icymist]

WASHINGTON -- Joe Sullivan was sent away for life for raping an elderly woman and judged incorrigible though he was only 13 at the time of the attack.

Terrance Graham, implicated in armed robberies when he was 16 and 17, was given a life sentence by a judge who told the teenager he threw his life away.

They didn't kill anyone, but they effectively were sentenced to die in prison.

Life sentences with no chance of parole are rare and harsh for juveniles tried as adults and convicted of crimes less serious than killing. Just over 100 prison inmates in the United States are serving those terms, according to data compiled by opponents of the sentences.

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[proteus_lives]

1. Life is too harsh for robbery and lower offenses but rape and murder?

Lock them away for life. They are predators no matter how old or young they are.

[Odin2005]

2. Rape? throw away the key. Fuck him.

[mamaleah]

3. How old and what crime?

A 13 year old thief no they don;t need life.

A 15 year old and up rapist or murderer? You damn well know by that age that rape, murder, etc are wrong. Enjoy your stay in Hotel Graybar for a looooong time.