Five US Counties Hold 25% of Juveniles With Life-Without-Parole Sentences
September 28, 2015 | by Beth Schwartzapfel | The Marshall Project
A new report shows that five counties are responsible for 25% of the juvenile life-without-parole sentences in the United States. Philadelphia County holds 9%, followed by Los Angeles County, California; Orleans Parish, Louisiana; Cook County, Illinois; and St. Louis County, Missouri. As with the death penalty, which follows a similar pattern of concentration, juvenile life-without-parole sentences are at the discretion of prosecutors.
A new report shows that five counties are responsible for 25% of the juvenile life-without-parole sentences in the United States. Philadelphia County holds 9%, followed by Los Angeles County, California; Orleans Parish, Louisiana; Cook County, Illinois; and St. Louis County, Missouri. As with the death penalty, which follows a similar pattern of concentration, juvenile life-without-parole sentences are at the discretion of prosecutors. Read more here. Learn more about NCCD’s work on juvenile justice issues here.