Michigan juvenile lifers have never had much chance for life. They have no chance of parole because of crimes they committed as kids. Michigan has over 350 people serving such sentences, the most in the country. However, most are not young anymore. On a humanity basis they deserve compassion. The law says they should get relief.
In 2012, the Supreme Court ruled that juvenile life sentences without the possibility of parole were unconstitutional. Currently, 25 other states and the District of Columbia have banned juvenile life without parole. But some states. like Michigan, have so far side-stepped the issue; Michigan has not stopped the practice or given intended sentencing relief.
Since the Supreme Court ruling, according to a Target 8 investigation, 258 Michigan juvenile lifers have been resentenced, 142 of whom have since been released. Among them there was only one subsequent arrest. This suggests it is more purely punishment that keeps them there, rather than safety.
Thankfully, there is a group of bipartisan Michigan Legislators who are promoting Senate Bills 848-851 which will abolish life without parole sentences in Michigan for children under the age of 18. So, thank you Senators Jeff Irwin (D-Ann Arbor), Michael MacDonald (R-Macomb Township), Sylvia Santana (D-Detroit), and Curt VanderWall (R-Ludington).
Michigan Juvenile Lifers Need The Will of the People to Prevail
This practice has never seemed humane, this throwing-away-of-the-key and forgetting about it. Careers have been built on “law and order”, which is okay and understandable. But personal agendas and vendettas should not be built on the backs of children. Something someone does as a child should not mean they never experience reasonable life. When these sentences are levied, they cannot know how a child perpetrator will progress or what they should ultimately deserve.
Thinking caring people need to proactively show their support. This is because we are in a dark period of political behavior that capitalizes on division and misrepresentation. The ongoing consideration of the Supreme Court nominee is a good example. The will of the common people solidly falls on the side of compassion and justice, but Michigan is strongly complicit in this dark political behavior. Important matters like justice for juveniles requires that the will of the people prevail.
Please sign this important online petition to send your Michigan Senator an email expressing support for Michigan Senate Bills 848-851.
The vote likely comes up in April. If passed, the bills will make Michigan the thirty-fifth state to end the practice of sentencing people to die in prison for crimes they committed as children.
At this link, you can also find additional information about the inhumanity of juvenile life without parole (JLWOP) and why the people need to support these important Senate Bills 848-851.