There are more than 2,000 child offenders serving life without parole sentences in United States prisons for crimes committed before the age of 18 and Lolita Barthel is one of them. The United States is one of only a few countries in the world that permits children who commit crimes to be sentenced to prison forever, without any possibility of release. Only eight states in this country Alaska, Colorado, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, New Mexico, New York, and West Virginia and the District of Columbia prohibit life without parole for youthful offenders. Unfortunately, adolescents, like adults, commit horrible crimes and make terrible mistakes. And, like adults, they should be held accountable but in accordance with their age, stage of development, and greater capacity for rehabilitation. …show more content…
An estimated 26 percent of juveniles sentenced to prison for life were convicted of a felony murder, that is, for participating in a robbery or burglary during which a co-participant committed murder, in some cases without the knowledge of the teen. Fifty-nine percent of youth sentenced to Life without parole sentences are serving time for a first-time offense. In 26 states, the sentence of life without parole is mandatory for anyone, even a juvenile, who is found guilty of committing first degree murder. Lolita Barthel she was seventeen at the time when she robs Richard Menendez on August 18th, 1995. She was arrested on September 14th, 1995 just seven days after her birthday, she was a few weeks from turning 18 when she shot and killed the Temple Terrace floral supply salesman in August 1995, during a robbery as the victim begged for his life. Females are increasingly becoming more active in the juvenile justice system and this is said to be happening at alarming