Writing Off Lives

While the prison population in the United States has declined in recent years after three decades of growth, a new study from the Sentencing Project found that one in nine inmates is serving a life sentence. Many of these individuals were convicted of nonviolent crimes or crimes that occurred before they turned 18. The New York Times Editorial Board calls for a closer look at the potential for rehabilitation through practices such as rational sentencing, executive clemency, and parole.

While the prison population in the United States has declined in recent years after three decades of growth, a new study from the Sentencing Project found that one in nine inmates is serving a life sentence. Many of these individuals were convicted of nonviolent crimes or crimes that occurred before they turned 18. The New York Times Editorial Board calls for a closer look at the potential for rehabilitation through practices such as rational sentencing, executive clemency, and parole.

To read the original article, click here.

For the Sentencing Project study, “Life Goes On: The Historic Rise in Life Sentences in America,” click here.