In Defense of Juveniles Sentenced to Life: Legal Representation and Juvenile Criminal Justice

This book explores how attorneys enable meaningful release for individuals sentenced to life as juveniles by investigating the role of legal representation in the parole process. It provides a detailed overview of how attorney assistance provides due process protection in the highly discretionary context of parole, drawing on interviews with lawyers and qualitative content analyses of attorney participation in parole recordings from one state. The findings are generalizable to other states and countries that conduct parole board hearings for juvenile and adult populations.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 68 pages
Publication date: 29 January 2024
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

This comprehensive book delves into the critical role of attorneys in facilitating meaningful opportunities for release for individuals sentenced to life as juveniles. It offers a detailed overview of how legal representation plays a pivotal role in enabling release for juveniles referred to as "juvenile lifers." By examining the role of attorneys in the parole process, the work contributes to the broader literature on the significance of legal representation within the criminal legal system. Through qualitative content analyses of attorney participation in parole recordings from a single state, the study illustrates how attorney assistance provides a vital due process protection in the highly discretionary context of parole. The analysis of attorney representation is contextualized within the historical development of attorneys' prominence in the criminal legal system and their perception as essential in the parole process. Prior criminological and legal research has established the impact that a lawyer can have by preparing a juvenile lifer candidate to present a persuasive narrative for release, emphasizing their reduced criminal culpability and efforts toward rehabilitation in preparation for life beyond prison.

This book holds relevance for students, academics, and policy makers, particularly for state parole boards, public defender agencies, and legislatures. While the analysis is based on the experience of one state, the findings are broadly applicable to other states and countries that conduct parole board hearings for both juvenile and adult populations. By shedding light on the role of attorneys in the parole process, this book contributes to a better understanding of the legal and ethical considerations involved in determining the release of individuals who have committed crimes as juveniles. It serves as a valuable resource for those seeking to enhance the fairness and effectiveness of the criminal justice system in addressing the unique challenges posed by juvenile offenders.

Weight: 453g
Dimension: 216 x 138 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781032053028