As our country is dealing with the Covid-19 virus, many Americans have been revealing the effects of quarantine on their mental health.  There are many news reports and social media posts bringing the life of our inmates to light.  What men and women in the prison system are going through in their daily lives.  They’re receiving the empathy and attention most are deserving of.  There is not better time to discuss and push reform than right now.

Harvard University performed a study in 2017 that provided data (I will post the link here) that cognitive skills and emotional intelligence, develop into a persons mid-20s.  The study also finds, that incarcerating those younger than 25 in adult prisons further traumatizes young adults.  Combine these with difficult childhoods and we are serving an injustice to our youth. They are also more likely to re-offend after being released from an adult prison.  Most, will be released at some point.  Why are we not preparing these people to have successful futures?  Why are we as Americans, with the largest amount of incarcerations allowing such an injustice to our youth?  We must ask ourselves, if we want to continue following the same patterns that has lead so many to nowhere.  Many of these young adults want the opportunity to have families, lead a healthy life, attain an education.  Yet, we deprive them of their humanity, and for what?  

Vermont is leading the way in changing the youthful offender age to 21 years old.  Also, they are working toward new laws for young adults up to age 25.  Massachusetts is also following suit, attempting to raise the age to 21.

We must act to secure a future for our youth, rehabilitation not incarceration.  We must pass a bill to raise the criminal offender adult age to 21, to include all crimes including murder.  Also, to have a separate sentencing and rehabilitation for those 21-25.  We’re missing an opportunity to give these people a chance at living.  If the bill is passed, it also must allow any inmates currently serving whose crimes were committed at those ages to be allowed re-sentencing.  

Finally, please kindly ask Senator Karl B. Allen to help amend the H. 3580 bill.  It currently excludes inmates serving for murder.  Should a teenager or young adult be serving 30-life?  There are so many serving for murder that did not actually commit a murder, there are too many variables to murder in South Carolina.  Young people are just as influenced by the police, attorneys, prosecutors to accept guilt as much as they would be influenced by peer pressure from their friends.  What separates a 17,18,19 year old?  Is there an adult switch that turns on, when your 18th birthday arrives?  Many of these inmates want a chance to have children, to lead a successful life.  Please include all inmates in this bill whose offense was committed under the age of 25, at a minimum 21 whom are serving for murder. 

Again, I kindly ask please sign this petition. Call, email, write your representatives and the governor of South Carolina!  We have all experienced a slight inconvenience to our daily lives living in quarantine. Please support those living in these cages, missing their families, and wanting to live!

https://scholar.harvard.edu/files/selenperker/files/emerging_adult_justice_issue_brief_final.pdf​

https://www.scstatehouse.gov/sess123_2019-2020/bills/3580.htm