In his Monday article "Fla. Stands Apart in Sentencing of Juveniles", Tallahassee Bureau reporter Lloyd Dunkelberger, noted that "Florida has handed out more life sentences to juveniles for nonmurder crimes than have all other states combined."
These life-without-parole punishments slam the door forever on teenagers - sometimes before they've even finished middle school.
That is far too soon to give up on young people whose minds and morals are still in the formative stage.
Some of these youths probably could be rehabilitated with education and therapy while in prison. But when there is no hope of ever getting out, there is little incentive for self-improvement or good behavior.
Another disturbing aspect to the punishment is that, often, it is not meted out in an even-handed fashion. As Dunkelberger detailed, one youth involved in a robbery got life without parole, while another in the same crime was sentenced to three years.
Read the full story:
http://www.theledger.com/article/20090813/NEWS/908135025/1036/EDIT?Title=Juvenile-Sentencing-Don-t-Give-Up-on-Young
