James: Abolish Life Without Parole For Juveniles

State Rep. Harold James has (D-S. Phila.) introduced legislation that would amend Pennsylvania law to grant juvenile offenders serving life sentences the possibility of parole after serving 25 years in prison.

“The global rejection of life without parole for young offenders is overwhelming. Pennsylvania should not continue this exceptionally punitive punishment, but rather encourage these offenders to rehabilitate themselves and to become productive, taxpaying members of our society,” James said.

James’ legislation would allow juveniles currently serving life sentences without parole to apply for resentencing and upon application receive a life sentence with the possibility of parole after serving 25 years in prison. If the proposal were to become law, a juvenile receiving a life sentence automatically would be eligible to apply for parole after 25 years.

According to the Human Rights Watch, the United States is the only country in the world that sentences youth to life without the possibility of parole for offenses they committed before the age of 18. The highest number of juveniles serving life sentences in the country is in Pennsylvania which currently has 373, of which 68% are African American.

The US Supreme Court decided in 2010 that juveniles serving life sentences without the possibility of parole for non-homicide crimes is considered to be a violation of the 8th Amendment’s Cruel and Unusual Punishment Clause. It also recently decided that legislatively mandated life without parole sentences for juveniles is unconstitutional and that judges should have the option of granting the possibility of parole. The legislation (HB 2553) awaits action by the State House of Representatives.

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