Juvenile Justive Hearing!

To my faithful readers,

Sorry for being so bad at blogging. I'll try to get back on my game.

From the Sentencing Project:
Legislative Hearing:
"Juvenile Justice Accountability
and Improvement Act"

On June 9, the U.S. House of Representative's Committee on the Judiciary, Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security will convene a hearing at 2:30 p.m. in the Rayburn House Office Building, Room 2141, to listen to testimony about sentences of juvenile life without parole (JLWOP). Marc Mauer, Executive Director of The Sentencing Project, submitted testimony to the Committee urging Congress to eliminate sentences of JLWOP in the states and the federal system.

"The Sentencing Project opposes sentences of juvenile life without parole (JLWOP) because they declare that young people are beyond reform. All other nations have devised strategies to hold youth accountable, promote public safety, and prioritize rehabilitation to limit recidivism without resorting to this extreme punishment," states Mauer in his written testimony. "We support legislation that acknowledges the critical differences between youth and adults and imposes age-appropriate sentences that protect public safety and gives a second chance to young people."

To read more of his testimony, click here.

The following bill will be considered: H.R. 2289, the "Juvenile Justice and Accountability Improvement Act of 2009."

Witness List

Bryan Stevenson,
Executive Director, Equal Justice Initiative

Mark Osler,
Former Prosecutor and Professor of Law, Baylor Law School

Linda White,
Victim, Texas

Anita Colon,
Sister of JLWOP Inmate, Pennsylvania