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“In a world that demands justice when the unthinkable becomes reality, there are no easy answers when that reality involves minors. The United States has the highest incarceration rate in the world and remains the only nation that, in rare circumstances, will sentence its juveniles to life without parole. Is it a solution? Does it work? Do we care?”
The question of whether or not sentencing juveniles to life without parole is a suitable solution for the justice system depends on who you ask. In some cases, advocates feel that this type of sentence can be both just and necessary in order to protect society from heinous crimes particularly those involving minors committing serious acts of violence against others. On the other hand, opponents argue that such sentences violate basic human rights, disproportionately target disadvantaged communities and fail to adequately rehabilitate or treat juvenile offenders.
In terms of effectiveness, research suggests that life without parole sentences do not lead to lower crime rates compared with other punishments. Additionally, a recent Supreme Court ruling declared such sentences unconstitutional for non-homicide offences committed by children under 18 years old due to their immaturity and lack of culpability.
Ultimately, this decision comes down to our shared values as a society: how much value we place on rehabilitation versus retribution; how much faith we have in our justice system’s ability to accurately assess each offender’s capacity for reform; and how willing we are to consider alternatives when it comes to dealing with young people who commit serious offenses.