What are the implications of juvenile life without parole sentences?

Juvenile life without parole sentences have serious implications both for juveniles and the criminal justice system in California. First, such sentences mean that juveniles will not be able to be rehabilitated in the criminal justice system. Without the possibility for parole, juveniles are unable to prove themselves to be reformed and to show that they are ready for release into society. This also means that juveniles who are serving life without parole sentences will not have the opportunity to be productively contributing to society, or to be released from prison if their behavior improves. Second, these sentences may lead to the over incarceration of juveniles, as well as the disproportionality of their sentences when compared to those of adults. Juveniles may be sentenced more harshly than adults who have committed similar crimes, leading to unfair sentencing outcomes. These sentences also inherently lead to the ineffectiveness of the criminal justice system, as juveniles cannot be rehabilitated and thus are not able to contribute to society, even after they are released. Finally, juvenile life without parole sentences are likely to cause financial strain on the state. Juveniles who receive life without parole sentences are often held in juvenile detention centers for far longer than necessary, leading to an increase in the cost of incarceration for the state. Furthermore, since these juveniles will never be able to contribute to society, the state will have to bear the cost of their life-long incarceration.

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What are the implications of juvenile life without parole sentences?

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