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Death in Prison Sentences for 13- and 14-Year-Olds

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Dominic Culpepper has been sentenced to imprisonment until death in Florida for a crime committed at age 14. View Slideshow

In the United States, dozens of 13- and 14-year-old children have been sentenced to life imprisonment with no possibility of parole after being prosecuted as adults. While the United States Supreme Court recently declared that death by execution is unconstitutional for juveniles, young children continue to be sentenced to die in prison with very little scrutiny or review. EJI has documented 73 cases where children 14 years of age or younger have been condemned to death in prison. Almost all of these kids currently lack legal representation and in most of these cases the propriety and constitutionality of their extreme sentences has never been reviewed.

Most of the sentences imposed on these children were mandatory: the court could not give any consideration to the child’s age or life history. Some of the crimes charged against these children do not involve homicide or even injury. Many of these children were convicted for offenses where older teenagers or adults were involved and primarily responsible for the crime. Nearly two-thirds of these adolescents are children of color.

EJI has launched a litigation campaign to challenge death in prison sentences imposed on young children. We are also working to increase public awareness in order to reform policies that reflect a lack of perspective and hope for young children.

News

Prosecutors Will Not Seek New Death Sentence for Mumia Abu-Jamal

December 9, 2011

Following the United States Supreme Court's decision to let stand an April 2011 federal appeal court order vacating Mumia Abu-Jamal's death sentence for the 1981 killing of a police officer, Philadelphia prosecutors announced this week that they will not seek a new death sentence for Mr. Abu-Jamal.

United States Supreme Court to Review Constitutionality of Death in Prison Sentences for Children

November 7, 2011

Today, the United States Supreme Court agreed to hear an appeal filed by EJI which asks the Court to extend protections for children sentenced to life imprisonment without parole. In Jackson v. Hobbs, the Arkansas Supreme Court upheld a death-in-prison sentence imposed on a 14-year-old who was convicted of an unintentional killing where he was not the triggerman. In Miller v. Alabama, an Alabama appeals court upheld a sentence of life imprisonment without parole imposed on a 14-year-old convicted of intentional murder. Both sentences were mandatory and did not permit any consideration of the juvenile’s age or adolescent status.

U.S. Supreme Court Upholds Decision Barring Life Without Parole for Kids Convicted of Attempted Murder

October 14, 2011
Ian Manuel



The United States Supreme Court this week denied the Florida Attorney General's request for review in Ian Manuel's case, upholding the Florida Court of Appeal's decision that juveniles convicted of attempted murder cannot be sentenced to life imprisonment without parole.

American Law Institute Model Penal Code Bars Life Imprisonment Without Parole for Children

October 12, 2011

The American Law Institute, an independent organization composed of 4000 prominent judges, lawyers, and legal scholars working to clarify, modernize, and improve the law, has called for banning the use of life imprisonment without parole for juveniles. Its new model code requires consideration of the child's age and reduced sentences for juveniles prosecuted in adult court.

U.S. Supreme Court Orders More Protections for Juveniles Who Are Interrogated by Police

June 17, 2011

The United States Supreme Court re-affirmed that the legal system should treat children and adults differently in J.D.B. v. North Carolina, which held this week that a child's age should be considered in deciding what police are required to do before interrogations.

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