Study Done On Kids Doing Life

EJI Publishes Study on LWOP

A new study from the Equal Justice Initiative (EJI) documents 73 cases where 13- and 14-year-olds have been tried as adults and sentenced to life without the possibility of parole (LWOP). The report, “Cruel and Unusual: Sentencing 13 and 14-Year-Old Children to Die in Prison,” notes that almost all of the children currently lack legal representation and in most cases the propriety and constitutionality of their sentences has never been reviewed. Declaring that such harsh sentences for such young offenders is cruel and unusual in violation of the 8th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution and that LWOP sentences additionally violate international law and the Convention on the Rights of the Child, EJI has launched a litigation campaign to have the youths re-sentenced to parole-eligible sentences as soon as possible.

Learn more about the EJI campaign and report at www.eji.org/eji/reports/cruelandunusual.

To read newspaper articles and editorials about juvenile life without at parole, click on the links below:

New York Times - www.nytimes.com/2007/10/17/us/17teenage.html
Baltimore Sun - www.baltimoresun.com/news/opinion/editorial/bal- ed.parole23oct23,0,974212.story

OJJDP Adds DMC Databook to Statistical Briefing Book

The Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) has released the National Disproportionate Minority Contact (DMC) Databook, a web-based tool that addresses the DMC Relative Rate Index (RRI) Matrix, a means of comparing the rates of juvenile justice contact experienced by different groups of youth. The Databook explains the use of RRI, contains national RRIs for 1990 through 2004, and provides a written interpretation of racial disparity trends for a large number of decision points within the juvenile justice system.

View the DMC Databook at www.ojjdp.ncjrs.gov/ojstatbb/dmcdb/. View the entire Statistical Briefing Book at www.ojjdp.ncjrs.gov/ojstatbb/index.html.

SAMHSA Seeks Proposals to Address Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Service's Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) has issued a request for proposals from juvenile courts interested in receiving funding and training to address fetal alcohol spectrum disorders. Organizations legally authorized to provide services to adjudicated youth on probation or dependent youth are also eligible. Proposals are due November 29, 2007.

Learn more at www.fasdcenter.samhsa.gov/initiatives/subcontracts.cfm.

Upcoming Conferences

The National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges (NCJFCJ) will hold its 2007 National Youth Court Conference in New Orleans, LA, December 9-12, 2007. Designed to assist jurisdictions in developing, implementing and enhancing effective youth court programs, the conference allows participants to learn how to plan and implement a youth court; educate new staff and stakeholders; enhance existing programs; and network with peers from around the country. Registration is open to adult staff and volunteers involved in youth, teen, student and peer courts.

Learn more at www.ncjfcj.org/content/view/1027/315/.


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— Robin Jenkins, 2007 CJJ National Chair
— Kitty McCarthy, Editor