It's a well known and understood fact that our criminal justice system is focused on the punishment and processing of individuals over taking the time to invest in practices that could set an offender up for success. One form of punishment and the focus of this petition is life without the possibility of parole (LWOP). LWOP is given to offenders who have committed serious offenses, although the goal of this petition is to get rid of LWOP it's not the goal to not hold the offender accountable that did violate the law, but to push our lawmakers to implement a policy into how to best approach this issue of LWOP as research indicates that its an ineffective use of time and resources Nolan Bennett author of “The State was Patiently Waiting for Me to Die”: Life without the Possibility of Parole as Punishment. Writes in the context of describing legal and political difficulties that prevent efforts of reform for LWOP “Life without the possibility of parole reinforces and relies upon a vision that not simply some people are unable to change, but that anyone in a democracy—no matter their position—is some steps away from irretrievable exclusion. Permanent confinement denies a restorative vision of democracy: any effort to abolish or amend it must include the voices of those imprisoned.” Bennett (2020) In addition to Bennett consider Marie Gottschalk author of “Sentenced to Life: Penal Reform and the Most Severe Sanctions” who focuses their research on how the history of the increased use of LWOP and the United States attachment to this type of punishment has no impact on crime reduction or public safety writes how the united states used the ruling in Harmelin v Michigan as a legal loophole to issue LWOP sentences. Gottschalk writes “ it ruled that LWOP sentences do not require the same “super due process” procedures mandated in capital punishment cases. Thus, LWOP has become a much cheaper and easier alternative penalty compared with a death sentence.” Gottschalk (2013) Although these are just two of many authors and researchers that advocate for reform of not only our criminal justice system but also with moving away from practices that take the focus away from justice and equality to punishment and efficiency .

With the continuance of life without the possibility of parole, we deny the opportunity for individuals to grow and change, and undermine the capacity of human rehabilitation. We need to reshape our system, to focus more on supporting individuals in their journey back to society and less on irrevocable punishment. 

I have known many people and even family members that have been given LWOP and i have seen first hand the negative implications that our system has created to address crime, But time and time again it doesn't work because our system is not addressing the root causes that are driving the issues we see in our system.

It's time to reform life without parole sentences for a more rehabilitative system. Your signature will add to the voices calling for a more compassionate, effective justice system that acknowledges the potential for individuals to change and grow. Please sign this petition.

References 

Bennett, N. (2020). “The State was Patiently Waiting for Me to Die”: Life without the Possibility of Parole as Punishment. Political Theory, 49(2), 165–189. https://doi.org/10.1177/0090591720927800

Gottschalk, M. (2013). Sentenced to life: penal reform and the most severe sanctions. Annual Review of Law and Social Science, 9(1), 353–382. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-lawsocsci-102612-134014