More than 200,000 people in the United States are serving life sentences and have virtually no hope in getting out. 

Mixed in the bunch of people are YOUNG OFFENDERS. Thousands of YOUNG OFFENDERS in the federal system have mandatory life without parole sentences, in violation of the Eighth Amendment. For the simple fact that, much of the criminal conduct that formed the basis of their sentences-that  is the quantity of drugs sold and agreements to commit violent acts-occurred while they were minor(s). There's an open question in the Federal Courts of whether or not, the Supreme Court  juvenile sentencing cases of Miller vs. Alabama and Graham vs. Florida categorically bar a Mandatory life without parole sentence in "a case concerning a crime that straddled the age of majority" Basically, those YOUNG OFFENDERS that started to commit the federal offense when they were under the age of 18 years old but completed the offense after this age.

In 2017, The United States Sentencing Commission conducted a study of federal defendants named, "YOUTHFUL OFFENDERS in the FEDERAL SYSTEM". (ussc.gov) in this study, the United States Sentencing Commission presented information about youthful offenders, who for the purpose of the report were defined as persons age 25 or younger.

The study went on to state, that "recent studies on the brain development and age, coupled with the recent Supreme Court decisions recognizing differences in offender culpability due to age, have led some policymakers to reconsider how youthful offenders should be punished. "Moreover, the report key findings were that "there were 86,309 offenders (18.0%) of the federal population) age 25 or younger sentenced in the federal system between 2010  and 2015. The majority (57.8%) of youthful offenders' were Hispanic. The overall federal offender population (or non-youthful  offender groups) the most common offenses committed were drug trafficking (30.9%), immigration (28.6%), and firearm (13.7%). The report went on to acknowledge that, youthful offenders (56.1% compared to 50.1%). Among the study group of youthful offenders, 96 received life imprisonment when sentenced for their federal conviction."

Prior to the United States Sentencing Commission conducting a report in 2017 on YOUTHFUL OFFENDERS in the Federal System, there was no way for a young offender who straddled the age of majority to make an argument for a  lesser than life sentence. It's still not a way for those YOUNG OFFENDERS, with federal offenses that straddle this age and having been in prison before 2010 who have mandatory minimum sentences of life without parole to receive any relief. No federal YOUNG OFFENDERS can benefit from any of these new findings. This is WRONG and MUST End. 

It is proven that extreme sentences are not necessary for preventing recidivism. Because, the vast majority of people who committed crimes-even serious crimes-naturally grow out of criminal behavior as they age and mature. As youthful offenders, extreme sentences are often unjust, excessive, and imposed without considering individuals' level of culpability or other mitigating factors-especially the youthful  offenders that were sentenced before 2012. 

These YOUTHFUL OFFENDERS will generally spend more time in prison than people who were older when arrested and convicted. 

Please, Help with the cause to get YOUNG OFFENDERS relief. Help to get their life without parole sentenced reduced. Call, email or write your Federal Congressional Representative, and let them know to change the wrong.

Thank you!