Crime: U.S. considering banning juvenile life sentences

Radio Netherlands report the US Supreme Court is considering whether to change the law so that juvenile offenders cannot be given a life sentence for crimes that do not involve murder.

Around 2,500 people in the US are serving a life-long jail term for a crime committed before their 18th birthday.

The Supreme Court is looking at two specific cases. One is the case of 13-year-old Joe Sullivan, given a life sentence for raping an older woman. His lawyers argue that he is mentally disabled. The other is the case of 17-year-old Terrance Graham, who committed an armed robbery in 2005 while on parole for a previous offence.

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