Supreme Court Ruling Prohibiting Life Sentences Without Parole for Juveniles Applauded

World’s Largest Prison Outreach Organization Hails Decision

LANSDOWNE, Va., May 17, 2010— Leaders of Prison Fellowship, the world's largest outreach to prisoners, ex-prisoners and their families, praise today's Supreme Court decision that ends the practice of sending juveniles to prison for life without parole.

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INTERVIEW OPPORTUNITY: Prison Fellowship President and former Virginia Attorney General Mark Earley is available to discuss the merits of today's Supreme Court ruling. Contact Michelle Farmer (770) 813-0000 or (770) 757-4900 cell.

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"The high court's historic decision is consistent with a long tradition of American jurisprudence that says young teenage offenders who have not committed homicide should be treated differently than adults," said Mark Earley, Prison Fellowship president and former Virginia attorney general. 

"These are serious crimes that require incarceration, but these offenders are so young that there is a good chance they can turn their lives around, and we don't want to rob them of hope of a better life," Earley said.

Writing for the court, Justice Anthony Kennedy said, "Life without parole is the second most severe penalty permitted by law and is especially harsh for a juvenile offender, who will on average serve more years and a greater percentage of his life in prison than an adult offender."

Prison Fellowship is part of a coalition that filed an amicus curiae brief in the case before the court involving Terrance Graham, age 16 at the time of his original offense, who was charged with armed burglary and other crimes.  The group argued that sentencing juveniles convicted of non-homicide offenses to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole disregards contemporary standards of decency and violates the Eighth Amendment's guarantee against cruel and unusual punishment.

"Everyone is capable of changing for the better, in particular juveniles," said Earley. "Today's Supreme Court decision gives young teenage offenders at least a chance to be rehabilitated and go on to live productive lives, rather than be locked up forever."

In addition to helping prisoners change their lives and helping their children, Prison Fellowship also:

• advocates for a broad range of reforms including the elimination of prison rape and other reforms that provide effective sentencing options, including a focus on public safety through rehabilitation,

• ensures ample prison space for violent offenders and

• promotes wise use of tax dollars.

 

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