Study: More black juveniles sentenced to life without parole

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According to a new study, “The Lives of Juvenile Lifers”, there are reportedly more black youths serving a life sentence for killing a white person, than there is for a white teen killing an African-American. BET.com reports:

The study, The Lives of Juvenile Lifers, surveyed more than 1,500 prisoners who were sentenced to life terms without parole when they were between the ages of 13 and 17. Of those juveniles, 97 percent are male and 60 percent are Black. In addition, the proportion of Blacks serving life for killing a white person far exceeds the proportion of whites sentenced to life for killing a Black person.

“Although it does not excuse their crimes,” the report says, “most people sent to prison for life as youth were failed by systems that are intended to protect children.”

The findings come just three weeks before the U.S. Supreme Court will hear arguments on the constitutionality of sentencing juveniles convicted of homicide to life without parole. There are currently thirty-three states that send youth to prison without the option of redemption.

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