A Last Reflection Behind Bars: Rethinking Life Sentences for Children in the United States

Across the United States, a relatively small but deeply significant number of individuals entered prison as children and received sentences that may keep them incarcerated for the rest of their lives. Legal researchers and advocacy groups report that at least 79 people who were younger than 14 at the time of their offenses remain sentenced to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole.

The existence of these cases continues to prompt debate among legal scholars, policymakers, victims’ advocates, and human rights organizations. At the heart of the discussion lies a difficult and enduring question: How should society respond when a child commits a serious crime?