Can Wisconsin Finally End Juvenile Life Without Parole?
By Sherry Reames
The Wisconsin Alliance for Youth Justice (WAY-J) is making another push to end life- without-parole sentences for offenders under the age of 18. Family members and other advocates of juvenile lifers gathered in the Capitol on Oct. 26 to hear a panel that included both victims and former perpetrators of youth violence, and then visited legislative offices with their own stories and some excellent fact sheets on this issue from the Campaign for the Fair Sentencing of Youth.
Across the country, juvenile life without parole has already been banned by 26 other states, including such conservative bastions as Texas, Arkansas, Ohio, both Dakotas, and Iowa. Wisconsin lawmakers from both parties supported a promising bill on this issue in the 2021-22 session, and it came close to passing. Although the details of this year’s bill are still being worked out, bipartisan sponsors have been found and supporters are optimistic. Stay tuned for further developments in this important campaign, which may affect juvenile offenders currently serving long sentences, as well as future cases.