TO THE HOUSE SUB-COMMITTEE ON CRIME, TERRORISM AND HOMELAND SECURITY

A PETITION FROM ELIGIBLE U.S. CITIZEN ELECTORS IN FAVOR OF HR 4300



SEC. 3. ESTABLISHING A MEANINGFUL OPPORTUNITY FOR PAROLE FOR CHILD OFFENDERS.



(a) In General- For each fiscal year after the expiration of the period specified in subsection (d)(1), each State shall have in effect laws and policies under which each child offender who is under a life sentence receives, not less than once during the first 15 years of incarceration, and not less than once every 3 years of incarceration thereafter, a meaningful opportunity for parole. Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Attorney General shall issue guidelines and regulations to interpret and implement this section. This provision shall in no way be construed to limit the access of child offenders to other programs and appeals which they were rightly due prior to the passage of this Act.

(b) Definition- In this section, the term `child offender who is under a life sentence' means an individual who--(1) is convicted of an offense committed before the individual attained the age of 18; and (2) is sentenced to a term of natural life, or the functional equivalent in years, for that offense. (c) Applicability- This section applies to an individual who is sentenced on or after the date of the enactment of this Act as well as to an individual who had already been sentenced as of the date of the enactment of this Act. (d) Compliance and Consequences-

A former Escambia County Jail inmate was sentenced to life in prison Thursday after being convicted of raping a 15-year-old fellow inmate.


The three-man, three-woman jury found Emery Curtis Lewis, 35, of Ocean Springs, Miss., guilty on four of five counts of sexual battery with a weapon and one count of introduction of contraband into a corrections facility.

Circuit Judge Nick Geeker imposed the sentence following the two-day trial. Lewis has remained in jail since the alleged assaults in a jail bathroom on several days in April 2006.

Message from Christopher's Family on the US Supreme Court Decision


To everyone , We are sorry the news was not what we wanted but we have to stay strong and carry on with the fight.

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- An imprisoned killer who was 12 years old when he committed a double murder, and then was given a 30-year sentence, was denied a hearing by the Supreme Court Monday.


The justices, without comment, refused to intervene. At issue was whether the state properly used its discretion to try Pittman as an adult, whether the sentence was excessive, and whether mitigating factors should apply.

Outside a death-penalty context, the high court has offered little recent guidance on how to treat underage defendants.

Pittman's lawyers argued no other inmate in the United States is serving so severe a sentence for crime committed at such an early age.

The inmate's legal team, from the University of Texas Law School ,expressed disappointment at the high court's refusal to accept the case.

It is an honor to congratulate the Juvenile Law Center for receiving the Prestigious MacArthur Award for Creative and Effective Institutions.

We are so appreciative for their support for children through the years as well as very appreciative for filing the Amicus Brief in support of Christopher's Petition Certiorari. Congratulations and Thank You!