Home » Children in Adult Prison

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

PrintPrintE-MailE-Mail ""Share

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

EJI Wins New Trial for 14-Year-Old Michigan Child Sentenced to Die in Prison

September 2, 2010

The United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan yesterday granted a new trial to EJI client T.J. Tremble, who was sentenced to life imprisonment without parole for murder when he was just 14 years old.

In Mississippi Case, EJI Continues to Challenge Death in Prison Sentences for Children

June 11, 2010

Update: EJI lawyers argued the case of Demarious Banyard in the Mississippi Supreme Court on Monday, June 14, 2010. Demarious has been sentenced to life imprisonment without parole in Mississippi for an offense when he was just 13 years old. EJI is continuing to challenge death-in-prison sentences imposed on children in cases across the country.

Editorial Boards Across the Country Support Court Ban on Juvenile Life Without Parole Sentences

May 24, 2010

Following the United States Supreme Court's ruling on May 17 banning life imprisonment without parole sentences for children convicted of non-homicides, editorials and op-eds supporting the ban have appeared in newspapers across the United States.

U.S. Supreme Court Strikes Down Life Without Parole for Juveniles in Non-Homicide Cases

May 17, 2010

Decision Called “A Significant Victory for Children”

(Montgomery, AL) The U.S. Supreme Court today issued an historic ruling in Graham v. Florida that holds life without parole sentences for juveniles convicted of non-homicide offenses unconstitutional. Terrance Graham, sentenced to life without parole at 17, is now entitled to a resentencing hearing. Dozens of other juveniles sentenced to life without parole are now entitled to relief, including Joe Sullivan, whose case also was argued on this issue.

EJI Client Joe Sullivan's Death-in-Prison Sentence Overturned by United States Supreme Court's Ruling

May 17, 2010
Joe Sullivan, now confined to a wheelchair, is entitled to a new sentence.

Today, the United States Supreme Court ruled that the Constitution does not permit a juvenile offender to be sentenced to life in prison without parole for a nonhomicide crime. The ruling creates a new categorical rule that invalidates Joe Sullivan's sentence to life in prison without parole for a nonhomicide crime at age 13.

(more)