"January 2012"--Table of contents page. "This report was written and researched by Elizabeth Calvin, senior advocate with the children's rights division; Ian Kysel, Aryeh Neier fellow with the US program; and Alison Parker, director of the US program at Human Rights Watch"--P. 47. Includes bibliographical references.
Contents:
Summary -- Recommendations -- To the President of the United States -- To the United States Congress -- To State and Federal Officials who Fund and Administer Corrections Programs -- To Judges and Parole Boards -- Methodology -- I. Introduction -- Potential for Rehabilitation -- II. Physical Harm and Mistreatment in Adult Prisons -- Rape and Sexual Assault -- Violence and Assault -- Protective and Punitive Isolation -- Protection that Harms -- Punishment with a Permanent Impact -- Human Rights Standards on Physical Harm -- III. Limited Access to Education and Rehabilitation -- Categorized as the Least Deserving -- Intake Tools Deny Youth Access to Programs -- Placement Limits Programs -- Length of Sentence Denies Youth Access to Programs -- Limited Access to Education -- Limited Vocational Training -- Human Rights Standards on Access to Education and Rehabilitation Programs -- IV. Psychological Harm -- Fear, Anxiety, and Depression -- Suicide Thoughts and Attempts -- Isolation from Family and Community -- Human Rights Standards on Psychological Harm -- V. Conclusion -- Acknowledgments.
Summary:
"Currently, more than 2,500 inmates in the United States await death in adult prison, sentenced to life without parole for crimes they committed while they were under the age of 18. Youth offenders serving life without parole enter prison with developmental needs for protection, education, and other services in order to be able to fully mature into adulthood. Yet youth offenders are among the inmates most susceptible to physical and sexual assault during their incarceration, are often placed in isolated segregation, and are frequently classified in ways that can deprive them of access to rehabilitative programs. The United States is the only country in the world with youth offenders serving life without parole sentences, in violation of international human rights law. Against All Odds details the strong evidence that youth offenders serving life without parole are imprisoned in conditions that violate fundamental international human rights law and standards. Based on information from corrections departments across the country and hundreds of youth offenders serving life without parole, the report documents how states fail to protect youth offenders from physical assault and sexual violence, to administer adequate mental health care, or to provide access to age-appropriate services and programs. Despite the fact that the length of their sentence and their youth upon entering adult prison make growth and rehabilitation extraordinarily difficult, some youth offenders sentenced to life without parole do achieve emotional, intellectual, and personal transformation in prison--an extraordinary fact given the hurdles they face. Human Rights Watch calls on the US government to abolish the sentence of life without parole for crimes committed by persons below the age of 18 and to investigate and improve conditions for youth offenders imprisoned across the United States."--P. [4] of cover.
This resource is supported by the Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act as administered by State Library of Iowa.