BAD JOKE: Juvenile Law Center upset with SNL’s Michael Che about the release of ‘juvenile lifer’

Mar 5, 2019

The Juvenile Law Center is upset that Saturday Night Live comedian Michael Che made a “crass” joke about a juvenile “lifer” who was recently released after serving decades in jail, saying he missed many things “mostly murdering.”

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The Law Center which advocates for youth and works to end sentences that would result in children serving for life, didn’t find Che’s comments funny and took to Twitter to tear into Che and the SNL brass in an effort to educate them on the reality of the issue.

“We were deeply disheartened to see @nbcsnl’s Michael Che make a “joke” this past weekend about a juvenile lifer being released at 70+ missing many things, “mostly murdering.”

Thread: We were deeply disheartened to see @nbcsnl’s Michael Che make a “joke” this past weekend about a juvenile lifer being released at 70+ missing many things, “mostly murdering.”

— Juvenile Law Center (@JuvLaw1975) March 5, 2019

“The United States is the only country in the world that sentences children to die in prison. That’s what juvenile life without parole is. That an @nbcsnl chose a man who is finally getting a chance at a life outside prison as the subject of crass ridicule reflects a poor,” they wrote.

The United States is the only country in the world that sentences children to die in prison. That’s what juvenile life without parole is. That an @nbcsnl chose a man who is finally getting a chance at a life outside prison as the subject of crass ridicule reflects a poor

— Juvenile Law Center (@JuvLaw1975) March 5, 2019

Understanding of the issues surrounding juvenile life without parole. We know from adolescent development research and neuroscience that adolescents are categorically less blameworthy than adults and more capable of change.

Understanding of the issues surrounding juvenile life without parole. We know from adolescent development research and neuroscience that adolescents are categorically less blameworthy than adults and more capable of change.

— Juvenile Law Center (@JuvLaw1975) March 5, 2019

@nbcsnl – we think you’ve done a disservice to the many juvenile lifers who have come home following the Montgomery and Miller Supreme Court decisions which allowed for their resentencings. We’d like to extend an invitation to Michael Che to contact us to speak with our CEO

@nbcsnl – we think you’ve done a disservice to the many juvenile lifers who have come home following the Montgomery and Miller Supreme Court decisions which allowed for their resentencings. We’d like to extend an invitation to Michael Che to contact us to speak with our CEO

— Juvenile Law Center (@JuvLaw1975) March 5, 2019

So far, from what we know, SNL hasn’t responded to the criticism.

In December, Congress passed the FIRST STEP Act which shortens mandatory jail minimums for nonviolent drug offenses and tackled the federal three-strikes rule that historically has disproportionately impacted minorities.

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