Too Young for Life: Kids Serving Forever Sentences
In the U.S., at least 79 children under 14 are serving life without parole. Some committed serious crimes, others played small roles—but most came from lives shaped by trauma and neglect.
Lionel Tate was just 12 when he was sentenced to life after a wrestling game turned fatal—a case that sparked national outrage.
Experts say kids should be given the chance to grow, not be condemned forever. A 2012 Supreme Court ruling ended mandatory life sentences for minors, but many are still waiting for justice.
