Behind prison bars sits a child — her life stolen before it even began. Her only mistake: being in the wrong place at the wrong time, in a country that still locks kids away forever.
In the U.S., at least 79 children under 14 are serving life without parole. Many grew up surrounded by poverty, abuse, or neglect. Some made terrible choices; others were simply caught in tragedy.
One case, that of 12-year-old Lionel Tate — sentenced to life for accidentally killing a 6-year-old during a “wrestling game” — forced the nation to ask: should children ever be treated as adults?
Advocates say no. “To condemn a child for life is to deny them the chance to change,” said UN official Juan Méndez.
Despite some legal reforms, many kids remain behind bars — forgotten by the system. As civil rights lawyer Bryan Stevenson said, “Childhood should be about learning and redemption, not a life sentence.”
