United States must stop giving young offenders life sentences without the chance of parole.* International human rights advocates say the United States United States, officially United States of America, republic (2005 est. pop. 295,734,000), 3,539,227 sq mi (9,166,598 sq km), North America. The United States is the world's third largest country in population and the fourth largest country in area. must stop giving young offenders life sentences without the chance of parole. According to according to prep. 1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians. 2. In keeping with: according to instructions. 3. Amnesty International Amnesty International (AI,) human-rights organization founded in 1961 by Englishman Peter Benenson; it campaigns internationally against the detention of prisoners of conscience, for the fair trial of political prisoners, to abolish the death penalty and torture of and Human Rights Watch, at least 2,225 young offenders are serving such sentences in the United States compared to no more than twelve in the rest of the world. Life without parole for youths is outlawed in many countries by international law under the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, often referred to as CRC or UNCRC, is an international convention setting out the civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights of children. . The United States and Somalia are the only two nations that haven't ratified the treaty. Pennsylvania, Louisiana, Michigan, and Florida--which all have mandatory life sentences for certain crimes and don't allow judges any discretion--collectively house 1,228 youths serving life without parole. Karen Ann Gajewski is a freelance editor and an editorial consultant to the Humanist. |
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