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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
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State Rep. Kenyatta Johnson
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Local lawmaker fights to give juvenile lifers a second chance
Hearing scheduled to discuss juvenile lifers bill
PHILADELPHIA, July 27 – The House Judiciary Committee will hold a hearing at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 4 in Room 400 at City Hall in Philadelphia on legislation sponsored by state Rep. Kenyatta Johnson designed to provide juvenile offenders serving life sentences a second chance.
Those scheduled to testify at the hearing include:
· Carol L. Lavery, Office of the Victim Advocate
· Bernard L. Siegel, Pennsylvania Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
· Charles Stimson, Heritage Foundation
Johnson, D-Phila., said he introduced the legislation (H.B. 1999) to address the issue of juvenile offenders serving life sentences without opportunities for parole. The bill would change Pennsylvania's Judicial Code to offer juvenile offenders serving life sentences with the opportunity for parole at least once during their first 15 years of incarceration, and at least once every three years thereafter.
"I believe in redemption," Johnson said. "A youth may not foresee the long-term consequences of his or her actions, and it's important to provide the opportunity for an individual to prove that he or she is reformed."
In Pennsylvania, a mandatory life sentence without parole is imposed for any crime involving a homicide, whether or not the homicide was intended. Currently, the United States is the only country where juveniles can receive life sentences without the opportunity for parole. In addition, Pennsylvania has the highest percentage of juveniles serving life sentences in the country. Earlier this year, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled, in the case of Graham vs. Florida, that it is unconstitutional for juveniles to be sentenced to life in prison for a non-homicide offence.
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