March 2011
A Message from Jody: Our Second Anniversary
Last month marked two years since the Campaign for the Fair Sentencing of Youth was launched in February 2009. As I reflect on our first two years, I am amazed by the progress that has been made. There are more people working together to end the practice of sentencing children to life in prison without parole than ever before. Together, we have grown more strategic and powerful as a community, and the tides are shifting as a result.
Within months of when the Campaign started, we helped to mobilize faith groups, medical professionals, victims of crime, and people convicted of crimes as youth to publicly weigh in and demonstrate their support of Terrance Graham and Joe Sullivan, the two young men sentenced to life without parole for crimes committed in their youth whose cases were heard by the United States Supreme Court in 2009.
A year later, the United States Supreme Court ruled it unconstitutional to sentence youth to life in prison without parole for non-homicide crimes. Justice Kennedy wrote, “the limited culpability of such offenders; and the severity of these sentences all lead the Court to conclude that the sentencing practice at issue is cruel and unusual.”
The Graham decision was a significant step forward. Americans are growing less tolerant of our practice of discarding children for life for crimes they have committed. States cannot afford costly sentencing policies that are not needed for public safety. That is why thirty-seven prosecutors and judges have signed our statement calling for alternatives to life without parole sentences for young people.
Last month, I had the great fortune to participate in the CURE’s 5th International Conference hosted by CURE Nigeria, in Abuja. People traveled from all over the world, representing 25 different countries, to share ideas and strategies for making our juvenile and criminal justice policies more humane. Most of the 150 participants came from African nations. One advocate posed a question about how we can work together as an international community—how do organizations in the United States and Africa partner to reform harsh policies, particularly those that disproportionately impact African Americans in the U.S.? Pressuring the United States to abolish juvenile life without parole--a sentence that African American youth are 10 times more likely to receive than white youth--is a vehicle for bringing together the international community to collectively call for something fairer and more humane. We will be following up with groups from this conference in the coming months to develop partnerships and organize our collective advocacy efforts.
It is remarkable to see the collaborations that have been developed or strengthened in the last two years—among family members advocating together for their loved ones serving juvenile life without parole, partnerships between human rights advocates and litigators to improve defense for youth facing harsh penalties, the network of state-based advocates growing coalitions in their states to call for policy reforms, and alliances between law enforcement officials and faith communities working together to restore the rights of our children. These collaborations exemplify broad-based support for change from overly harsh sentencing practices to age-appropriate policies that hold young people accountable for harm they have caused and give them an opportunity to demonstrate their growth.
I am humbled by letters we receive from people serving juvenile life without parole who express their tireless support and gratitude for our work. Earlier this year we received a letter from someone serving a life sentence for a crime he committed at 14 who shared his story with us. He shot and killed his teacher and injured others at the scene in a manner based on a book he read. Now, nearly 25 years later, he says, "It didn't really occur to me the scope and magnitude of what I'd done until I was about 18-19." In prison, he contemplated suicide, overwhelmed by isolation, anger, and regret. He told us, "I matured, realized life was about more than myself, began to seek out a place to serve the social organism, which I recognized as my greater purpose. My future remains unclear, my existence and my desire to make a difference are secure. I survived a deep dark time andnothin can ever make me go back." He shared that he would like to help bring hope to other young people serving long sentences so that they survive dark periods like he experienced. Enclosed in his letter was a $10 transfer from his books to contribute to our organization.
It is these individuals who continue to inspire me to bring people together, to create new collaborations, to raise awareness about, and call for an end to our inhumane practice of sentencing young people to die in prison. I am grateful to be part of this powerful movement, and excited about what we will achieve together in years to come. Thank you for your support over the last two years, and for ensuring youth are not declared worthless for crimes they have committed, but are held accountable in a way that reflects their age and human dignity.
If your organization has not yet become an Official Supporter of the Campaign, please consider doing so, simply by endorsing our Statement of Principles. To find out more about becoming an Official Supporter, visit: http://www.endjlwop.org/home/statement-of-principles/. If you would like to join our movement as an individual, please contact us at info@endjlwop.org and follow us on Facebook.
Jordan Brown gets new hearing
Friday afternoon the Pennsylvania Superior Court ruled that Jordan Brown had his 5th amendment rights violated when he was denied decertification. Jordan was 11 years old when Kenzie Marie Houk was murdered in their home in her bed. Jordan has maintained his innocence, although he was charged for the murder as an adult by local authorities. During a hearing last year to determine whether or not Jordan was eligible to be tried in juvenile court a judge ruled that he was ineligible because he did not accept responsibility for the crime and would not be amenable to rehabilitation even though he has consistently maintained that he did not commit the murder. Friday’s decision vacated the lower court ruling and ordered that another hearing should be held to determine if Jordan can be tried as a juvenile. You can read more at the Pittsburgh Post Gazette.
Me Facing Life: Cyntoia's Story
Members of the Campaign for the Fair Sentencing of Youth participated in screenings and panel discussions for a new documentary last month. “Me Facing Life: Cyntoia’s Story,” follows a 16-year-old girl who is arrested, convicted and sentenced to 51 years to life for murder in Tennessee. The film premieres on PBS’ Independent Lens Series on local stations during the month of March.
Our Director and National Coordinator, Jody Kent moderated a panel in Washington, DC that was held with a standing room only crowd. Cat Lambert, the founder of the National Family Network, participated in a panel in Colorado where she reports that her community was shocked to learn that young people receive extreme sentences. And Kelly Orians our Louisiana State Coordinator participated on a panel in New Orleans.
National coalitions tell federal policymakers to end the practice of sentencing youth to life without parole
In recent months several national coalitions and networks have made official announcements that they oppose the practice of sentencing youth to life without parole. The National Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Coalition is a DC-based coalition of which the Campaign for the Fair Sentencing of Youth is a member. In their recommendations to the 112th Congress they supported the abolition of these extreme sentences for youth in the federal system. Similarly the Smart on Crime coalition recommended that federal policy makers, “end the practice of sentencing youth tried and convicted in federal court to life without parole, and instead require review after ten years for any person incarcerated in federal prison for a crime committed when they were under the age of 18.”
Lastly, the Federal Advisory Committee on Juvenile Justice--a body appointed by State Advisory Groups to advise the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Administrator, the President and Congress on matters related to juvenile justice—recommended that Congress and the Administration pass legislation that would ensure all youth tried and convicted in federal court are eligible for parole.
Major newspapers agree: "Kids are different"
Last week two articles in major newspapers highlighted the fact that kids are different and should never be treated as adults. On Sunday, March 6th, the New York Times ran a front page piece that declared there is a growing consensus that many young people “have been mishandled by the adult court system,” and states are shifting toward sentencing fewer youth in the adult criminal justice system as a result. Although life without parole sentences for youth are prohibited in the state, New York is one of the last two states to treat all 16 year olds involved in the justice system as adults.
A Christian Science Monitor editorial made it clear that youth should be treated as youth and went on to say that, “ several states are recognizing what parents already know – and what the Supreme Court has ruled: Youths are not adults, mentally and emotionally, and so they should not be prosecuted as adults.” Editors there were clear that youth should not be treated as adults because they have a greater capacity to change and grow.
Attorney General Holder addresses the need for juvenile justice reform
During an address to the National Association of Counties Legislative Conference last week, Attorney General Eric Holder talked about how there is an essential need to change how we deal with young people who commit crimes. He said, “This is a moral issue. How we treat our children answers the question of who we are as a nation.”
Additionally he talked about the importance of using sound science and research to make sure that our approaches are “smart on crime” and create the outcomes that we need to protect youth and save money.
Many of you have spent years advocating for “smart” reforms that would take into consideration sound science. We know that our country’s practice of sentencing youth to life without parole flies in the face of research that proves that teenagers’ brains, not just their bodies, are not yet fully developed. Last year the Supreme Court agreed, emphasizing again that teenagers are less culpable. We encourage the Attorney General to look closely at the federal Bureau of Prisons where there are at least three dozen people serving life without parole sentences for crimes committed in their youth and apply his standard of “updating the approach” to allow for review of those sentences.
National Family Network Connects to the National Parent Caucus
After initial calls at the end of 2010 and some planning time at our National Convening, family and friends of people serving life without parole for crimes committed in their youth are now holding monthly conference calls to provide support to each other through sharing stories and news relevant to their incarcerated loved ones. The network was conceived by Cat Lambert, the mother of a young man serving in Alabama. Lambert says that members of the network are ecstatic because they have been offered an opportunity to partner with the National Parent Caucus. The National Parent Caucus, which is affiliated with the Campaign for Youth Justice is a large established group of parents of young people who are involved in the juvenile or criminal justice system. They meet monthly so families can connect with others who are tackling the same issues. The National Family Network leaders have been invited to participate in upcoming trainings held by the National Parent Caucus on a variety of issues including best practices in family organizing and how to do an elevator pitch. If you have a loved one who is serving life without parole for a crime committed in their youth and would like to join the National Family Network please contact us at: fairsentencingofyouth@gmail.com.
Iowa legislature grapples with Graham decision
As one of the states identified by the Supreme Court as having people serving life without parole for non-homicide crimes committed before age 18, the Iowa legislature is debating legislation--and whether it is even needed--to come into compliance with the Graham decision. The Iowa County Attorneys Association is advocating for legislation that would provide parole review for youth convicted of non-homicides after as many as 45 years. Opponents of that recommendation say that, if adopted as law, it would likely get challenged in court because it would not provide the “meaningful opportunity for release” that Graham requires. To read more about the debate in Iowa, see articles from the Iowa Independant published last week.
Juvenile Justice Week of Faith and Healing
More than 300 congregations across the state of California planned events and activities in observance of the Juvenile Justice Week of Faith and Healing which began Sunday, March 6. On Monday, March 7, a large interfaith service was held outside of a juvenile hall in Los Angeles, CA to kick off the week’s activities. More than 250 people attended the event and more than half of them were youth. The service included influential faith leaders, a gospel choir, a group of Aztec dancers and a performance by Grammy-award winning band Ozomatli.
Read more in the United Methodist Board Church and Society's Faith in Action Newsletter.
Or listen to a sermon from Brother Shakeel Sayed given at the King Fahad Mosque on Friday, March 11.
Calling all people of faith!
California’s Fair Sentencing for Youth coalition is circulating a petition for people of faith everywhere who oppose the practice of sentencing youth to life without parole. The coalition is supporting new legislation (SB 9) that would allow for the review of cases of young people sentenced to life without parole in California. If you consider yourself a person of faith and believe that youth deserve an opportunity for rehabilitation, please sign the petition today.
Across the country some of the most commanding voices calling for an end to extreme sentencing for youth are people of faith who believe that we have a moral obligation as a county to hold youth accountable in an age appropriate way. Please sign the petition by Tuesday, March 15, to add your voice to the growing chorus of people from diverse faith backgrounds who are advocating for an end to this sentence. Later this month it will be sent to California legislators and Governor Jerry Brown.
Our New Offices!
As we celebrated our second year in existence we also moved to a new office in the downtown Washington, DC. The Campaign staff is still available at the same email addresses, but our phone numbers have changed. Check out the new address and phone numbers below.
Campaign for the Fair Sentencing of Youth
1090 Vermont Ave., NW
Suite 400
Washington, DC 20005
Phones
Main line: (202) 289-4672
Jody Kent, Director & National Coordinator: (202) 289-4670
Allison Conyers, Communications Specialist: (202) 289-4671
James Puzo, Program Assistant: (202) 289-4672 (main line)
Do you follow the Campaign?
The Campaign for the Fair Sentencing of Youth is on Facebook and Twitter. It is another way to get updates on the work being done to abolish the practice of sentencing youth to life without parole. Take a moment to “Like” our page on Facebook or follow us on Twitter.
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