,,iv  #aad? ,,congress  #a/ ,session    
,h4 ,,res4 #chb  ,,9 ,,! ,,h\se ,,(     
,,repres5tatives  ,july #bg1 #bjae ,mr4 
,crd5as submitt$ ! foll[+ resolution2   
:i* 0 ref]r$ to ! ,committee on !       
,judici>y  ,,resolution  ,express+ ! ne$
 to elim9ate life )\t p>ole = *ildr54   
,:]eas approximately #b1ejj individuals 
9 ! ,unit$ ,/ates h be5 s5t5c$ to die 9 
prison = crimes committ$ z *ildr52      
,:]eas ! ,unit$ ,/ates is ! only c\ntry 
9 ! _w t imposes life )\t ! possibility 
( release or p>ole s5t5ces on *ildr52   
,:]eas ! ,unit$ ,/ates1 along ) ,s\?    
,sudan1 are ! only ,unit$ ,nations      
,memb] ,/ates t h n ratifi$ ! ,conv5tion
 on ! ,rights ( ! ,*ild :i* prohibits ! 
use ( ! dea? p5alty & life )\t !        
possibility ( release s5t5ces f be+     
impos$ on *ildr5 "u #ah ye>s ( age2     
,:]eas a life )\t ! possibility (       
release or p>ole s5t5ce is a f9al       
judgm5t t disreg>ds *ildr5's unique     
capacity to gr[ & *ange z !y mature into
 adul?ood2 ,:]eas /udies h %[n t        

*ildr5's bra9s are n fully develop$ & z 
a result1 *ildr5 are less capable ?an   
adults to consid] ! long-t]m impact ( _!
 actions1 control _! emotions &         
impulses1 or evaluate risks & rew>d2    
,:]eas fundam5tal diff]5ces betwe5      
juv5ile & adult bra9s make *ildr5       
uniquely capable ( long-t]m gr[?1       
rehabilitation1 & *ange z _! bra9s      
mature ov] "t2 ,:]eas ! va/ majority (  
*ildr5 :o commit crimes age out (       
crim9al behavior & no long] pose a ?reat
 to society 9 adul?ood2 ,:]eas ! ,unit$ 
,/ates recognizes t *ildr5 are diff]5t f
 adults by ! limitations society places 
^u !m2 ,:]eas *ildr5 are n all[$ to ent]
 into contracts1 pur*ase or consume     
tobacco & alcohol1 vote1 s]ve 9 !       
milit>y1 or engage 9 o!r adult          
activities2 ,:]eas ! only area :]e !    
,unit$ ,/ates does n treat *ildr5       
diff]5t f adults is 9 crim9al s5t5c+    
laws2 ,:]eas *ildr5 s5t5c$ to life )\t !
 possibility ( release or p>ole are mo/ 
frequ5tly ! mo/ vuln]able memb]s (      

,unit$ ,/ates society2 ,:]eas /udies %[ 
t ne>ly #hj p]c5t ( juv5ile lif]s       
report$ witness+ viol5ce 9 _! homes & m 
?an half 7#ed4a p]c5t7 witness$ weekly  
viol5ce 9 _! neighborhoods2 ,:]eas 9    
addition1 #ej p]c5t ( all *ildr5 s5t5c$ 
to life 9 prison )\t ! possibility (    
p>ole h be5 physically abus$ & #bj p]c5t
 h be5 sexually abus$ z a *ild2 ,:]eas  
,black *ildr5 are #aj times m likely to 
receive a life )\t ! possibility (      
release or p>ole s5t5ce2 ,:]eas #ad     
,/ates includ+ ,texas1 ,nevada1 ,wyom+1 
,k5tucky1 ,kansas1 ,colorado1 ,montana1 
,alaska1 ,hawaii1 ,delaw>e1             
,massa*usetts1 ,v]mont1 ,connecticut1 & 
,we/ ,virg9ia h all elim9at$ life )\t ! 
possibility ( release or p>ole s5t5ces =
 all *ildr5 "u #ah ye>s ( age 9 ! la/   
sev]al ye>s2 ,:]eas #c o!r ,/ates       
includ+ ,cali=nia1 ,florida1 & ,wa%+ton 
h elim9at$ life )\t ! possibility (     
release or p>ole = mo/ *ildr5 "u #ah    
ye>s ( age 9 ! la/ sev]al ye>s2 ,:]eas !
 ,am]ican ,b> ,association pass$        

,resolution #ajg;,c e>li] ?is ye> call+ 
on ! ,f$]al ,gov]nm5t & all ,/ate       
gov]nm5ts to retroactively aboli% life  
)\t p>ole s5t5ces = *ildr52 ,:]eas !    
,unit$ ,me?odi/ ,*ur* & ! ,ca?olic ,*ur*
 h call$ = an end to life )\t !         
possibility ( release or p>ole s5t5ces =
 *ildr52 ,:]eas #aj ye>s ago ! ,unit$   
,/ates ,supreme ,c\rt 9 ,rop] v4        
,simmons /ruck d[n ! dea? p5alty =      
*ildr5 "u #ah ye>s ( age2 ,:]eas #e ye>s
 ago ! ,unit$ ,/ates ,supreme ,c\rt 9   
,graham v4 ,florida /ruck d[n ! use (   
life )\t ! possibility ( release or     
p>ole s5t5ces = non-homicide crimes     
committ$ by *ildr5 "u #ah ye>s ( age2 & 
,:]eas #c ye>s ago ! ,unit$ ,/ates      
,supreme ,c\rt 9 ,mill] v4 ,alabama     
/ruck d[n ! use ( m&atory life )\t p>ole
 s5t5ces & requir$ s5t5c+ bodies to     
consid] ! mitigat+ factors ( y\? anytime
 a *ild faces a pot5tial life s5t5ce3   
,n[1 !re=e1 be x  ,t ! ,h\se (          
,repres5tatives-- 7#a7 applauds &       
celebrates ! anniv]s>y ( ! decisions by 

! ,rop]1 ,graham1 & ,mill] c\rts = /rik+
 d[n ! dea? p5alty & use ( life )\t     
p>ole s5t5ces = non-homicide (f5ses &   
m&atory life )\t p>ole s5t5ces = *ildr5 
9 ! ,unit$ ,/ates2  7#b7 applauds &     
celebrates ! ,/ate ( ,texas1 ,nevada1   
,wyom+1 ,k5tucky1 ,kansas1 ,colorado1   
,montana1 ,alaska1 ,hawaii1 ,delaw>e1   
,massa*usetts1 ,v]mont1 ,connecticut1   
,we/ ,virg9ia1 ,cali=nia1 ,florida1 &   
,wa%+ton = rec5t legislative *anges t   
elim9at$ life )\t ! possibility (       
release or p>ole s5t5ces = *ildr5       
convict$ ( s]i\s crimes 9 _!            
jurisdictions2 &  7#c7 enc\rages o!r    
,/ate legislatures to recognize !       
diff]5ces betwe5 *ildr5 & adult (f5d]s &
 elim9ate extreme s5t5ces1 l life )\t   
p>ole1 = *ildr5 convict$ ( s]i\s crimes4