Our brief urged the court to grant review in order to clarify that its prior rulings extend to term-of-years sentences that are the functional equivalent of juvenile life without parole and hold that any sentence that condemns a youth to die in prison is constitutionally disproportionate regardless of whether it is formally labeled “life without parole.”
Juvenile Law Center, joined by more than a dozen advocacy organizations, filed an amicus brief in the Kentucky Supreme Court in support of Mr. Bredhold and the trial court’s decision. We argued that objective indicia of evolving standards of decency and research in neuroscience require abolition of the death penalty for individuals who were under 21 years of age at the time of their offense.
Thirteen-year old L.G. was arrested immediately after being questioned at his school by a school official in the presence of police during a joint investigation
Juvenile Law Center, along with The Promise of Justice Initiative and Children and Family Justice Center, filed an amicus brief in support of Larry Newton’s
Our brief argued the imposition of life without parole sentences on young adults is unconstitutional because, as emerging research shows, the brain functions relevant to the characteristics of youth are still developing in young adults.
Our brief urged the court to grant review in order to enforce its precedent recognizing the reduced culpability and heightened Eighth Amendment protections for youth, and declare a categorical bar on all life without parole sentences for juveniles. We argued that juvenile life without parole sentences are imposed in racially discriminatory ways that disproportionately punish Black boys.
Karen Howell was convicted under the felony murder doctrine in Tennessee for her involvement with another juvenile and four adult co-defendants in the murder of
D.Z., a public school student, was questioned as part of an investigation jointly undertaken by the school’s assistant principal and a police officer stationed at
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