
Image from action in Oakland, California highlighting injustice in the prison industrial complex in April 2012. (Photo: Daniel Arauz/flickr/cc)
To donate by check, phone, or other method, see our More Ways to Give page.
Image from action in Oakland, California highlighting injustice in the prison industrial complex in April 2012. (Photo: Daniel Arauz/flickr/cc)
A United Nations human rights expert strongly condemned the U.S. on Tuesday for being the "only State in the world that still sentences children to life imprisonment without the opportunity for parole," thereby imposing cruel, inhuman, and degrading punishment.
Juan Mendez, the Special Rapporteur on torture, made the comments in a report to the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva--building from his previous censure of cruel incarceration practices in a nation that locks up more people than any other country in the world.
Mendez noted that the U.S. practice of imposing life sentences on children in cases of homicide violates international law on numerous fronts, including the Convention on the Rights of the Child.
"Life sentences or sentences of an extreme length have a disproportionate impact on children and cause physical and psychological harm that amounts to cruel, inhuman or degrading punishment," he wrote.
Such prison sentences are widespread.
Approximately 2,500 people in the U.S. are currently serving life sentences without parole for crimes allegedly committed as juveniles, the Sentencing Project finds (pdf).
These sentences reflect--and reinforce--racial disparities in U.S. society. "White juvenile offenders with African-American victims are only about half as likely (3.6%) to receive a [juvenile life without parole] sentence as their proportion of arrests for killing an African-American (6.4%)," the Sentencing Project notes.
However, the injustices do not stop there.
Mendez blasted another policy that is rampant in U.S. jails and prisons: holding people under the age of 18 in solitary confinement.
"In accordance with views of the Committee against Torture, the Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture and the Committee on the Rights of the Child," wrote Mendez, "the Special Rapporteur is of the view that the imposition of solitary confinement, of any duration, on children constitutes cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment or even torture."
Mendez's statements follow his previous call for a ban of all long-term solitary confinement--of any person, at any age--which he has described as torture. Mendez has repeatedly expressed concern about the rampant imposition of long-term solitary confinement in U.S. prisons, particularly in California, which has seen repeated prisoner hunger strikes over this and other abusive practices.
Mohamed Shehk, communications director for Critical Resistance, told Common Dreams that the Special Rapporteur's latest report highlights "just one aspect of a system that continues to lock up people and destroy communities."
"Of course life without parole for children should be abolished," said Shehk. "Life without parole for anyone should be abolished. This is a system that throws people away in prisons and jails and completely ignores any kind of global call to end that practice, even though it completely contradicts international law--which the U.S. claims to hold so dearly."
Donald Trump’s attacks on democracy, justice, and a free press are escalating — putting everything we stand for at risk. We believe a better world is possible, but we can’t get there without your support. Common Dreams stands apart. We answer only to you — our readers, activists, and changemakers — not to billionaires or corporations. Our independence allows us to cover the vital stories that others won’t, spotlighting movements for peace, equality, and human rights. Right now, our work faces unprecedented challenges. Misinformation is spreading, journalists are under attack, and financial pressures are mounting. As a reader-supported, nonprofit newsroom, your support is crucial to keep this journalism alive. Whatever you can give — $10, $25, or $100 — helps us stay strong and responsive when the world needs us most. Together, we’ll continue to build the independent, courageous journalism our movement relies on. Thank you for being part of this community. |
A United Nations human rights expert strongly condemned the U.S. on Tuesday for being the "only State in the world that still sentences children to life imprisonment without the opportunity for parole," thereby imposing cruel, inhuman, and degrading punishment.
Juan Mendez, the Special Rapporteur on torture, made the comments in a report to the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva--building from his previous censure of cruel incarceration practices in a nation that locks up more people than any other country in the world.
Mendez noted that the U.S. practice of imposing life sentences on children in cases of homicide violates international law on numerous fronts, including the Convention on the Rights of the Child.
"Life sentences or sentences of an extreme length have a disproportionate impact on children and cause physical and psychological harm that amounts to cruel, inhuman or degrading punishment," he wrote.
Such prison sentences are widespread.
Approximately 2,500 people in the U.S. are currently serving life sentences without parole for crimes allegedly committed as juveniles, the Sentencing Project finds (pdf).
These sentences reflect--and reinforce--racial disparities in U.S. society. "White juvenile offenders with African-American victims are only about half as likely (3.6%) to receive a [juvenile life without parole] sentence as their proportion of arrests for killing an African-American (6.4%)," the Sentencing Project notes.
However, the injustices do not stop there.
Mendez blasted another policy that is rampant in U.S. jails and prisons: holding people under the age of 18 in solitary confinement.
"In accordance with views of the Committee against Torture, the Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture and the Committee on the Rights of the Child," wrote Mendez, "the Special Rapporteur is of the view that the imposition of solitary confinement, of any duration, on children constitutes cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment or even torture."
Mendez's statements follow his previous call for a ban of all long-term solitary confinement--of any person, at any age--which he has described as torture. Mendez has repeatedly expressed concern about the rampant imposition of long-term solitary confinement in U.S. prisons, particularly in California, which has seen repeated prisoner hunger strikes over this and other abusive practices.
Mohamed Shehk, communications director for Critical Resistance, told Common Dreams that the Special Rapporteur's latest report highlights "just one aspect of a system that continues to lock up people and destroy communities."
"Of course life without parole for children should be abolished," said Shehk. "Life without parole for anyone should be abolished. This is a system that throws people away in prisons and jails and completely ignores any kind of global call to end that practice, even though it completely contradicts international law--which the U.S. claims to hold so dearly."
A United Nations human rights expert strongly condemned the U.S. on Tuesday for being the "only State in the world that still sentences children to life imprisonment without the opportunity for parole," thereby imposing cruel, inhuman, and degrading punishment.
Juan Mendez, the Special Rapporteur on torture, made the comments in a report to the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva--building from his previous censure of cruel incarceration practices in a nation that locks up more people than any other country in the world.
Mendez noted that the U.S. practice of imposing life sentences on children in cases of homicide violates international law on numerous fronts, including the Convention on the Rights of the Child.
"Life sentences or sentences of an extreme length have a disproportionate impact on children and cause physical and psychological harm that amounts to cruel, inhuman or degrading punishment," he wrote.
Such prison sentences are widespread.
Approximately 2,500 people in the U.S. are currently serving life sentences without parole for crimes allegedly committed as juveniles, the Sentencing Project finds (pdf).
These sentences reflect--and reinforce--racial disparities in U.S. society. "White juvenile offenders with African-American victims are only about half as likely (3.6%) to receive a [juvenile life without parole] sentence as their proportion of arrests for killing an African-American (6.4%)," the Sentencing Project notes.
However, the injustices do not stop there.
Mendez blasted another policy that is rampant in U.S. jails and prisons: holding people under the age of 18 in solitary confinement.
"In accordance with views of the Committee against Torture, the Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture and the Committee on the Rights of the Child," wrote Mendez, "the Special Rapporteur is of the view that the imposition of solitary confinement, of any duration, on children constitutes cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment or even torture."
Mendez's statements follow his previous call for a ban of all long-term solitary confinement--of any person, at any age--which he has described as torture. Mendez has repeatedly expressed concern about the rampant imposition of long-term solitary confinement in U.S. prisons, particularly in California, which has seen repeated prisoner hunger strikes over this and other abusive practices.
Mohamed Shehk, communications director for Critical Resistance, told Common Dreams that the Special Rapporteur's latest report highlights "just one aspect of a system that continues to lock up people and destroy communities."
"Of course life without parole for children should be abolished," said Shehk. "Life without parole for anyone should be abolished. This is a system that throws people away in prisons and jails and completely ignores any kind of global call to end that practice, even though it completely contradicts international law--which the U.S. claims to hold so dearly."