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In the U.S., dozens of children — some as young as 12 — are sentenced to life in prison with no possibility of parole, effectively stripping them of any chance for rehabilitation. Many come from environments marked by poverty, abuse, neglect, or systemic racism; some committed violent offenses, others were mere bystanders. A landmark case involved 12-year-old Lionel Tate, who was convicted of killing a six-year-old during what he claimed was a “wrestling game gone wrong.” Although his sentence was reduced later, his case galvanized national discourse around whether minors should ever face adult-level punishments.
The U.S. Supreme Court has made strides: in 2012, it ruled that mandatory life sentences for juveniles are unconstitutional, and in 2016 that decision must be applied retroactively. Yet many sentenced before these rulings are still behind bars without review. Advocates call for restorative justice, sentence reassessments, and programs focused on redemption. After all, childhood should be a chance to learn and heal — not to be condemned forever.
