Michigan Votes Forum

Introduced in the Senate on January 11, 2006

Click here to view bill details.

This will lead to the abolition of all life without parole sentences for murder. End LWOP for juvaniles First, then abolish life without parole sentences for everybody else. No matter what crime is committed, only a "slap on the wrist" results. There will be no difference between a murder/rape/robery charge and a shoplifting charge.

Imagine having a loved one murdered by one of these charming individuals. Upon conviction, you are told that the culprit has been sentenced to life without parole, and that at least he will spend the rest of his life in prison, paying for his crime and unable to hurt anyone else. Then, the legislature decides to make the guy parole eligible. I can scarcely imagine a greater betrayal.

I find it incredible that someone who committed a crime as a juvenile could ever receive a life without parole sentence. Surely the state of Michigan can do better than to give up on someone so young. By all means, YES! Give someone who is hardly more than a child a chance to change and a reason to hope that positive change will make a difference.

Look folks, the days of juvenile offenders being kids who played hooky or maybe went shoplifting is over. The juveniles who are being targeted by this bill are vicious, violent predators. Yet, some posters want to portray them as poor little innocents who just happened to "make a mistake". Oops, I accidentally happened to have a gun in my pocket. Oops, I accidentally shot someone fifteen times. These same posters are trying to cite brain research to support their arguments. Contact a scientist who is actually conducting this research and you will find out that, in terms of what we know about the brain, we are in the stone age. We certainly do not have enough knowledge about the brain and its functions to base public policy on that knowledge.

They should know right from wrong by now. And if you cannot execute then give them life in prison. The person they murdered sure as hell did not get *Life*!!

Since the dealth penalty is no longer a punishment for them, them let them serve years. Juveniles know right from wrong at an early age. No excuse to murder anyone. Change? You mean they will know they got off easy. I do not want to see LWOP ever take over the death penalty.

my brother was with someone that killed someone .wrong place wrong time .so should he do the 50-75 yr. that he got sentenced when he was 15 yr.old

I'm thinking of a specific man who was sentenced as a 17 year old, and is now 53 years old. Even the victim's family has campaigned for his release, but to no avail. Nobody is being served by such harsh sentencing. Surely he should have an opportunity to contribute positively to this society. I know there are many other such cases. These are real people who made mistakes as kids. Where is our humanity?

you libs want to see the murder rate go way up then a good way to do this would be to take LWOP off the table for juveniles. Won't be long before they start doing the dirty work for the drug dealers and other assorted dregs of society.