Eight Forty-Eight - Examining Life Without Parole For Illinois' Youth

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Examining Life Without Parole For Illinois' Youth

Addolfo Davis has been sentenced to prison for the rest of his life.

The DuPage County State’s Attorney and a Republican state representative yesterday called for Governor Rod Blagojevich to lift the moratorium on the death penalty. They say the notoriously flawed system has been reformed. But the governor responded yesterday through his spokesperson, saying he won’t lift the eight-year moratorium until he’s convinced that the system is no longer flawed.

Capital punishment wouldn’t affect sentencing of juveniles offenders. Nearly 3 years ago, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled the death penalty is unconstitutional for offenders under the age of 18. The justices in the majority wrote that children have a limited ability to understand the consequences of their actions.

Some activists in Illinois say the same reasoning applies to assigning sentences of life without parole. They say bad influences may be more to blame than the offender himself. Take Kevin—not his real name—who was convicted as a 14-year-old of being an accomplice to a double murder.

But victims’ rights groups say it’s dangerous to talk about paroling these offenders. Jeanne Bishop is a member of IllinoisVictims.org. She says some of the crimes speak for themselves. The Illinois Coalition for the Fair Sentencing of Children says those circumstances are exactly what a parole hearing is designed to evaluate. Today they’re releasing the report: Categorically Less Culpable: Children Serving Life Without the Possibility of Parole Sentences in Illinois. It makes the case for doing away with those sentences.

University of Chicago Law Professor Randolph Stone is a member of the coalition and he joins us now in studio.

Music Button: Shawn Lee’s Ping Pong Orchestra, “Tired” from the CD Voices and Choices (Ubiquity records)

Yvonne, River Forest, IL. // Wednesday, February 13, 2008 @ 12:22 PM

There are many things to consider when a child is involved. But to sentance someone to life with parole when they are under 18 years of age is just wrong. We were all 14,15, 18 years of age and oneday some could have said to one of use, come with me this will only take a few mi. then you go, just for the ride. What could happen you'll be home in less then an hour. The next thing you know your in jail for life. Now this isn't the way it always happens and some crimes are harder then this one. But when your 14 years of age how in the world can you know who will take you for a ride you can't come back from. We need to look at all cases and work the sentance from what happen and who was who in the case.Someone needs to fight harder for our youth, or all is lost. I have son 16 years old and I worry about him all the time. He's a good kid and student (Thank God) but anything can happen at any moment and a life can be changed forever!!!!

chinajoe, westside/chitown // Friday, February 15, 2008 @ 8:51 PM

we need to save our chikdren instesd of destroying them.dont be to quick to judge your child could be the next throw away!