BERKELEY CITY COUNCIL CONDEMNS JUVENILE LIFE WITHOUT

Tuesday, February 10, 2009, the Berkeley City Council in California passed a resolution condemning the life without parole (LWOP) sentence imposed against Efrén Paredes, Jr. as a human rights violation. The imposition of LWOP sentences on children contravenes several international treaties.

As of February 2008 the USA is the only country in the world currently imposing LWOP sentences on children. It is a shameful sentence that abandons the concept of redemption and ignores the reality that children possess the capacity to change. LWOP sentences are also being meted out to children of color in a grossly disproportionate manner.

Some of the treaties LWOP sentences for juveniles violates include the Convention on the Rights of the Child; International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights; United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the Administration of Juvenile Justice; United Nations Guidelines for the Prevention of Juvenile Delinquency; Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment; and the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination. Paredes is a 35-year-old Latino former high school honor student who was arrested at age 15 for a murder and armed robbery. The evidence used to convict him was circumstantial and included the testimony of other juveniles who sought to minimize their involvement in the crime to receive reduced sentences. The crime occurred in 1989 in St. Joseph, Michigan (Berrien County), USA. The Paredes case has garnered international attention. The case has been presented to the United Nations Human Rights Commission on two occasions, and Paredes was featured in the ACLU of Michigan juvenile LWOP report, “Second Chances.” His photo also appeared on the cover of the national juvenile LWOP report jointly released by Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, “The Rest of Their Lives.”

There is currently a commutation request for Paredes pending in the State of Michigan. A public hearing was held by the Parole Board on December 4, 2008 to consider the request. The Parole Board could issue a recommendation to Michigan Governor Granholm any day now. The Governor will render the final decision.

Bills seeking to abolish juvenile LWOP sentences were introduced in the Michigan Senate on January 29, 2009. If passed, the imposition of LWOP sentences on juveniles would desist in the State of Michigan, and juveniles who received LWOP sentences would one day become eligible for parole consideration. Passage of the bills in itself will not result in the release of any prisoners.

By passing the resolution, the Berkeley City Council joins the chorus of voices in the international community who have universally condemned juvenile LWOP sentences. They recognize that sentencing children to die in prison is an unconscionable act which is diametrically opposed to the evolving standards of decency in a civilized society.