The United States of America is the ONLY country that still allows juveniles to be sentenced to life without parole. This is the harshest sentence for juveniles and is reserved for the most serious offenses such as first degree murder. We have all been a kid that makes a stupid mistake and most of those did not land us in the criminal justice system but what if it did? 

There are currently 483 people serving a life without parole sentence for an act they committed as minors. This number has lowered since 2012 when it was 2,800 individuals. (Campaign for the Fair Sentencing of Youth, 2024) While this number may seem so low it is still an injustice. No one should lose their livelihood for something they did when they were so young their brains were not even fully developed. Everyone deserves the chance to change. 

Juveniles are not the same as adults developmentally. The prefrontal cortex which is responsible for our decision making and impulse control is not fully developed until the age of 25. (Arian, et. Al, 2013) Science proves that children lack the maturity and are more likely to be involved in peer pressure than adults. (Levick, 2019) Children also have less impulse control than most adults meaning they are much more likely to commit an act before fully thinking it through. They often do not consider the consequences of their actions. (Sen, et. Al, 2024) 

Furthermore, juveniles have a higher likelihood to change and be rehabilitated than adults. Research has proven that younger individuals are able to “outgrow” their criminal behavior. When keeping juveniles incarcerated for their entire lives they are often imprisoned long past their point of rehabilitation. (Juvenile Law Center, n.d.) An analysis done on juvenile risk assessment tests shows that over time youth offenders will lower their scores on their risk assessment tests. Many of the questions that have shown positive growth overtime include strong egos, impulse control and problem awareness. (Reef, et.Al, 2023) 

And if the moral factors do not persuade on this mater at least consider the financial benefits you would receive as a taxpayer. “For example, a fifty year sentence for a  sixteen year old can cost more than $2.2 million.” (Rovner, 2023) A sixteen year old sentenced to juvenile life without parole is very likely to exceed a fifty year sentence meaning that amount of money will only rise with time. 

You may be reading this thinking, “Where will those go that have proven to not be rehabilitated?” Well those individuals should still have the same opportunity to be rehabilitated as everyone else but it should always be considered on a case by case basis. In other countries those that prove to be unable to change their criminal behaviors judges are able to add more time to their sentence. This allows them more time to continue their rehab and be more likely to succeed next time there is an assessment. 

As a country the United States of America should not be so far behind the rest of the world. It is time to fix this grave injustice. It is time we consider the developmental differences. It is time that we consider the ability to change. Now is our time to act. It is time to give some second chances and eliminate juvenile life without parole. 

References 

Arain, M., Haque, M., Johal, L., Mathur, P., Nel, W., Rais, A., Sandhu, R., & Sharma, S. (2013). Maturation of the adolescent brain. Neuropsychiatric disease and treatment. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3621648/#:~:text=The%20development%20and%20maturation%20of%20the%20prefrontal%20cortex%20occurs%20primarily,helps%20accomplish%20executive%20brain%20functions 

Juvenile life without parole (JLWOP). Juvenile Law Center. (n.d.). https://jlc.org/issues/juvenile-life-without-parole#:~:text=While%20youth%20may%20still%20be,behavior%20by%20their%20mid%2Dtwenties 

Reef, J., Jeltes, M., Brink, Y., & Brand, E. (2023). Young offenders in forensic institutions in the netherlands after committing serious crimes: Contribution of mandatory treatment and reduction of reincarceration. Criminal Behaviour and Mental Health, 33(1), 33-45. https://doi.org/10.1002/cbm.2272

Rovner, J. (2023, April 7). Juvenile life without parole: An overview. The Sentencing Project. https://www.sentencingproject.org/policy-brief/juvenile-life-without-parole-an-overview/ 

Şen, H. H., Kiefer, S. L., Aksu, E., & Lucca, K. (2024). Developmental differences in children and adults’ enforcement of explore versus exploit search strategies in the united states and turkey. Developmental Science, 27(5), e13520-n/a. https://doi.org/10.1111/desc.13520

Sentencing children to life without parole: National numbers - campaign for the fair sentencing of Youth. CFSY. (2024, May 6). https://cfsy.org/sentencing-children-to-life-without-parole-national-numbers/#:~:text=483,is%20down%20from%202%2C800%20people