Should Life Without Parole Be a Permissible Punishment for People Who Have Committed Homicides as Juveniles?

Student Illustrator: Mickey Flores

Student Author: Erica Black

The issue of juvenile sentences of life without parole has been a long-standing concern of advocates and many in the legal community. Twenty-nine states started engaging in a review of original case sentences concerning juveniles condemned to parole-unentitled life sentences.  Despite Supreme Court rulings over the past decade that mandatory life sentences without parole were unconstitutional and that individuals who were already sentenced as juveniles should have their cases resentenced. The sentencing goes against the Eight Amendment which forbids the federal administration from imposing extreme fines and bails or unusual and harsh penalties. Notably, several circumstances explain why juveniles should not be sentenced without parole.  Juvenile offenders who commit crimes should being eligible for second chances to receive rehabilitative service while incarcerated. Juvenile homicide offenders should not be sentenced to life without parole.  

This is part of the 2021 Annual Poster Session, a collaboration between the Sociology, Anthropology and Criminal Justice Department and the Media Arts and Technologies Department, featuring work by social science and illustration students.