All Children Are Children

EJI’s work with children is focused on providing legal assistance to juveniles condemned to die in prison; challenging the placement of youth in adult jails and prisons, where they face an elevated risk of assault and sexual violence; and challenging the prosecution of very young children as adults.

In the last several years, EJI has won several reforms that aid children caught in the American criminal justice system. As this report outlines, more work remains. EJI currently is seeking to end the adult prosecution of any child under age 14; to end the placement of any juvenile under age 18 in an adult jail or prison; and to abolish life imprisonment without parole and other excessive sentences imposed on children.