Source: JSTOR
More than 10,000 Americans are serving life sentences in prison for crimes that they committed as children.
One example is a woman who was sentenced to prison for killing her “John” who used her for sex trafficking. Despite the fact that she was sixteen years old and that she was in an abusive relationship, defending herself against the perpetrator, she is now serving a life sentence in prison.
Approximately 2,500 of those serving life sentences are doing so without the possibility of parole.
According to JSTOR, nowhere else in the world are children sentenced to life in prison.
Although juvenile courts have served as efforts to help keep children out of confined spaces with adults, the power of juvenile courts has been reduced over the years and children are still serving harsh sentences for crimes committed under the age of 18.
Read Full Story: JSTOR