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Pennsylvania Reconsiders Automatic Life In Prison Without Parole For Juveniles
ResumeOn Wednesday, Pennsylvania's highest court will take up whether to overturn the automatic life-in-prison-without-parole sentences given to two men convicted of murder when they were teenagers.
Qu'eed Batts was 14 when he shot and killed one person and wounded another six years ago in a gang initiation. Ian Cunningham was 17 when he was convicted of second degree murder.
Across the country, 29 states are having to revisit their sentencing guidelines for juveniles after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in June that it constituted cruel and unusual punishment to require juveniles convicted of murder to serve life in prison without parole.
Pennsylvania has more people in prison sentenced under those guidelines for juveniles than any other state — so the issue is very much on the front burner there.
- National Conference Of State Legislatures: Juvenile Life Without Parole (pdf)
- National Organization Of Victims Of Juvenile Lifers
- ProPublica: Despite SCOTUS Ruling, Many Minors May Stay In Prison For Life
- The Campaign For The Fair Sentencing Of Youth
Guest:
- Moriah Balingit, Pittsburgh Post Gazette reporter who covers juvenile justice. She tweets @MoriahBee
This segment aired on September 11, 2012.