Life in Prison Deemed Cruel and Unusual Punishment for Juveniles

The Supreme Court is examining the case of two Florida convicts who were given a  life without parole sentence for non-homicide related crimes.  The young men in question were both sent away to prison when they were in their teens.  Attorneys fro the men argue that   it would be considered cruel and unusual punishment to sentence teens to life in prison for crimes outside of murder.

Slated to be heard by the High Court on  Monday, the two cases in question involved Joe Sullivan, who was 13-years-old when he was sent away for life without possibility of parole for raping an elderly woman.  The other prisoner, Terrance Graham, was 16 when he was linked to an armed robbery.

Sullivan, now 33 and Graham 22, are being represented by a legal team who argues that rendering final judgment when the offenders are so young is not a good precedent to set.  The team  hope is to repeal sentences for adolescents who were sentenced to life in prison without parole in cases that were not homicide related.

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