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Letters: We must stop throwing away children's lives

Juvenile life without parole is inhumane, costly, and ineffective ("Throwing away the key," Tuesday). With 444 people serving life for crimes committed before they were 18, Pennsylvania accounts for nearly 20 percent of the 2,484 juvenile lifers in the United States. These youths are serving life sentences for crimes committed before they could legally be married, smoke cigarettes, or buy a lottery ticket.

Youths with histories of child abuse and neglect are grossly overrepresented among juvenile lifers. This population has a particularly high rate of mental-health issues, and these children are at higher risk of being raped, murdered, or assaulted while in prison.

Research tells us that youths have the capacity to change. Rather than throw these children away and deny them a chance at life, we should provide them with the tools necessary to better themselves and, if earned, the opportunity for parole.

Alyssa Goodin

Children's systems advocate

Mental Health Association

of Southeastern Pennsylvania

Philadelphia

agoodin@mhasp.org

Comments   
Posted 07:49 AM, 11/07/2009
mwhisted
No
Posted 08:31 AM, 11/07/2009
tr88
I'm sure Ms. Goodin is a well-intentioned and earnest advocate but I'm going to bet she is also a committed stooge of the liberal democrats who have architected the system that's gotten here. Take if from me when I saw this 35 years ago. There are no workable solutions as long as Blacks are yoked to the system of dependence on the government.
Posted 09:05 AM, 11/07/2009
DexterMorgan
These children are just bad seeds and should be put away for life. This makes all of us safer.
Posted 02:28 PM, 11/07/2009
PhillyTrue
To be sentenced to life in prison as a juvenile you have to commit a very horrendous crime - Question: Do their victims get a 2nd chance at life? Rehabilitation is for vandals and petty thieves, not for murderers.
4 comments
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