Sentencing Youth to Life in Prison: Justice Denied is an excellent survey of juvenile crimes, sentencing, restorative justice, and the Supreme Court decisions of Graham v. Florida, Miller v. Alabama, and Montgomery v. Louisiana and their progeny. The authors very clearly reflect the impact of the 8th Amendment and the importance of the Michigan Constitution's on the evolving standards of decency in our justice system. Having served on a committee to bring about the proper implementation of Miller v. Alabama, I know these authors have reviewed our efforts. I highly recommend Sentencing Youth to Life in Prison: Justice Denied to all who have an interest in preserving justice in our criminal system.
Honorable Fred M. Mester, U.S. Attorney, Circuit Court Judge (retired); Ombudsman for the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan
Sentencing Youth to Life in Prison is a heart-wrenching and analytic look into the United States' youth justice system. Told through the stories of those most impacted by the juvenile justice system and juvenile life without parole, backed by science and research, this book is a must-read for anyone interested in justice system reform.
Gabrielle French, Policy Associate, Michigan Center for Youth Justice
Those interested in in-depth analysis and discussion of the moral and clinical deficits of public responses to juvenile delinquency, criminality and incorrigibility will find this book valuable. The thorough and careful punctuation of topics with relevant and current examples of the effect of sentencing children to life imprisonment make a compelling case for exploration.
Abu Mboka, Ph.D., Professor of Criminal Justice, California State University, Stanislaus, Author: Criminal Justice Assessment & Classifications of Prisoners, Probationers & Parolees
Milliken-Boyd and Windell's book provides an essential indictment of America's harshest punishment for young people - life imprisonment. The authors carefully explain the history of life sentences imposed on youth focusing on states that use the sentence most. They then combine this in a unique way with profiles of individuals sentenced to life. The narrative and quantitative research provided in their book makes a strong case for abolishing life sentences for youth.
Ashley Nellis, Ph.D., Senior Research Analyst, The Sentencing Project, Campaign to End Life Imprisonment
