Life Prison Sentences For Youths

This article from the New York Times, published on November 7th, states that there is an issue in Florida regarding sending felons to prison for life for crimes they committed as youths, although they were not involved in a homicide.  There are only just over 100 people in the entire world serving life sentences, with out the possibility of parole, for crimes that were committed while they were still juveniles, and in which no one was killed.  All of these are in the United States; 77 of them are in Florida.

There is much controversy over this issue, even among judges, legislators, and prosecutors. They all seem to agree that due to the high rate of crime in Florida especially, that they should take a very tough stance on juvenile crime.  However, the debate on this issue is whether life without the possibility of parole is really necessary.

The most recent controversy came about, first of all, due to the Supreme Court generally allowing states to decide for themselves what punishment will fit what crimes, and now they will be listening to two appeals today, Monday, November 9th, from two juvenile offenders, who were sentenced to life without parole.  Joe Sullivan, who raped a woman when he was 13, and Terrance Graham, who committed armed burglary at age 16.  They are appealing on the grounds of cruel and unusual punishment, established by the 8th amendment.  These two individuals are claiming they were sentenced to die in prison for crimes other than homicide, and that qualifies as cruel and unusual punishment.

This does seem cruel and unusual on the surface.  However, after reading further into the article, it gave a brief history of the two defendants.  Joe Sullivan, who is now 37, had committed a string of crimes before being charged with this particular rape, of whom the victim was a 72-year-old woman, after a burglary in 1989, in Pensacola.  Then, Terrance Graham, now 22, was sentenced to one year in jail and 3 years probation for a 2003 robbery of a resident in Jacksonville.  Mr. Graham violated his probation one year later by committing another home invasion robbery.

Tourism seems to be one major issue for Florida in particular.  According to Kathleen M. Heide, a professor of criminology at the University of South Florida, she states, "We're at the more extreme level," she said, "because our economy is so tied up with people coming here on vacation and and feeling safe.  And older people want to live out their retirements and be safe."

I really can see both sides of the issue here.  If the system is tough and makes examples out of these juveniles, the crime rate could go down, and it would make tourists and society feel more safe.  However, if there could be some type of middle ground, that could help also.  Perhaps if the justice system, in these states, would come up with a mandatory sentence for repeat offenders.  For example, serving 20 years before being eligible for parole or probation on the most serious crimes that do not involve homicide.  And personally, if juvenile offenders are on probation, I believe there should be mandatory counseling, for the remainder of the probation term, provided by the state.  If the juvenile does not fulfill these requirements, they go back to prison.  It's a shame that this many young people are in trouble in this country.