The Perspectives of VictimsThe perspectives of victims of crimes are an important component of a criminal justice system. Human Rights Watch interviewed individuals who had a family member killed by a teenager and asked for their opinions on the sentence of life without parole for juveniles.
The five people Human Rights Watch interviewed all had experienced terrible crimes and the resulting pain and loss. Jennifer Bishop-Jenkinss pregnant sister and her sisters husband were murdered by a 16-year-old. Maggie Elveys husband was beaten to death at his store by a 15- and a 16-year-old. Azim Khamisas son, a 20-year-old college student, was delivering pizzas when a 14-year-old shot him. Bill Pelkes grandmother was stabbed to death by a 15-year-old who broke into her home and robbed her. Melanie Washingtons son was killed in a drunken rage by his 17-year-old friend. While each crime was devastating to family members, each person interviewed arrived at very different positions on whether it is right to give a sentence with no possibility of parole to a juvenile.164 These five people cannot represent the full spectrum of victim opinions, nor is such a small sample representative. Most people we spoke with would probably agree with Bill Pelkes statement, The penalty can never be enough for a murder, thats just a fact. Regardless of what we do to the person who committed the crime, we arent going to bring back the person who was killed.165
Pelke also represents those who believe the difference between juveniles and adults is one reason that youth should not be subject to life without parole. Weve got to recognize that they are not the same as adults in terms of mental capacity, and so the [criminal] penalties they face should be different. We recognize that they are different by not letting them drink, by not letting them vote. It doesnt make sense to given them the same criminal penalties as adults.166 Azim Khamisa said of teenagers like his sons killer, Putting them away for life doesnt accomplish anything. Its barbaric. We have to get away from an eye for an eyeyou know what Gandhi said about that? An eye for an eye will make the whole world blind.167
Elsewhere on the spectrum are victims for whom the age, the possibility of change, or other factors about the defendant are not relevant to the sentence. Their focus is the crime itself. When they do these violent, brutal crimes, I dont care what age they are, they need to be held accountable and that means never getting out of prison, said Maggie Elvey.169 Society seems to think now that it is OK to kill someone and the killer should expect to get out of prison and walk the face of the earth again. The victims family cant expect their murdered loved one to walk on the face of the earth again. Years ago we learned that if you take a life, you lose yours. But now, there are no morals, no respect for life, and no accountability for bad choices.
Christine Ward is the director of the Doris Tate Victims Bureau in California. Speaking to the issue of parole generally, she explained why she thinks the focus should be on the crime. "Taking somebody's life...as far as I'm concerned, you don't get a do-over. That's a done deal," she says. "That victim doesn't get a second chance."171 Jennifer Bishop-Jenkins has more mixed stance on life without parole for juveniles. I believe we need life without parole for some cases, although I think it should be extremely rare, Bishop-Jenkins stated. With juveniles, its a different problem [than with adults] Im not going to argue that this sentence needs to keep being given. She believes that some people, even juveniles, should never be released and that sentencing options should include ways to sentence youth to life without parole. Personally, I believe we need [life without parole] for the worst of the worst. There are some [people] who are so dangerousIm talking about someone like Charles Manson, or like [the offender] in my sisters case. She noted, though, that some juveniles have been wrongly sentenced to life without parole. Here in Illinois there are clearly some that were sentenced to life without parole who shouldnt have gotten that sentence.172 Although he opposes life without parole for teens, Pelke said, I dont mean they should be automatically paroled. He thinks the sentencing system should provide options based on whether a person has changed. [I]f after a number of years a person becomes rehabilitated and is not a threat to society, then parole should be an option, he told Human Rights Watch. I believe there are some who might never be rehabilitated, never be reformed, and those people should stay in prison. Having experienced the murders of four family members over a 20-year period, Melanie Washington explained that she looks for a middle ground between the needs of victims and what society should do with young offenders.173 When a child commits a crime, there should be a lot more to it than just throwing him in prison. We need to first evaluate these kids. Theyre children, she said. At the same time, she believes that a lengthy sentence for murder is justified. Its not right when [judges] dont give a long enough sentence, like just 10 or 20 years for murder. I can agree that 25 years is enough. In Washingtons view, however, punishment should be balanced with the opportunity for a prisoner to show he has changed. If you show yourself improved, you should be able to get out [of prison.] Sentencing laws vary widely from state to state, and California has stringent sentencing laws. If life without parole was made illegal for juveniles, Californias existing laws would likely accommodate Bishop-Jenkins, Pelke, and Washingtons belief that there needs to be an option to keep some juveniles in prison. California has a strict parole system. For example, in a 25-to-life sentence for murder, a prisoner would only have the opportunity to be paroled after serving 25 years. There are no reductions in the minimum time served for a murder conviction.175 Even then, parole is merely an option and won only through the prisoner demonstrating rehabilitation. In addition, California law provides multiple ways in which sentences can be ordered to run consecutively. Bishop-Jenkins and other victims advocates voice concern about the effect of parole hearings for family members of victims. We have to balance what is too hard on an offender and whats too hard on a victim, she states. Existing California permits up to five years between parole hearings for murder cases. Pelke sums up his perspective with a plea that the bigger picture be brought into focus. I understand the pain, I understand the anger that people feel [toward a perpetrator], but we cant live in that type of world. We need to figure out how to move forward.176 162 In this report the word victim is used to mean both the individuals who were the direct victim of a crime and their families, such as the family of someone who was murdered. 163 Human Rights Watch telephone interviews with Jennifer Bishop-Jenkins, Northfield, Illinois, April 26, 2007, and September 27, 2007. Bishop-Jenkins is a frequent public speaker and activist. She serves on the boards of the National Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty and Murder Victim Families for Human Rights. She is the National Program Director for Victims and Survivors for the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence. 164 All of the victims interviewed for this report are an activists working on issues such as victims rights, anti-violence efforts in communities and schools, youth mentoring, and criminal justice reform. 165 Human Rights Watch telephone interview with Bill Pelke, Anchorage, Alaska, September 27, 2007. Pelke is an anti-death penalty activist and writes and speaks on the importance of compassion. He co-founded the organization, Journey of Hope from Violence to Healing. The organization is led by murder victim family members who oppose the death penalty. 166 Ibid. 167 Human Rights Watch telephone interview with Azim Khamisa, La Jolla, California, October 3, 2007. Khamisa founded the Tariq Khamisa Foundation, (TKF) an organization named for his son. TKF works with children across the country on issues such as gangs, violence, revenge, and the importance of becoming peacemakers. 168 Ibid. 169 Human Rights Watch telephone interview with Maggie Elvey, Sacramento, California, October 4, 2007. Elvey has been a victims rights advocate for 14 years. She speaks to community groups, high school students, criminal justice college classes, and youth at the California Department of Juvenile Justice facilities. Elvey is a member of the Doris Tate Crime Victims Bureau, a victims rights group in California, and currently works for Crime Victims United. 170 Ibid. 171 Julia Reynolds, Life with Parole Means Life: Chances of release dismal, The Monterey Herald, October 8, 2007. Rather than speaking more generally about life without parole for juveniles, Ward was speaking against the release of a 19-year-old man sentenced to 25 years to life in prison for a murder that occurred in 1979. By 2007 he had served 28 years. Despite an exemplary prison record with no prison behavior write-ups since 1987, self-improvement efforts, family and community support, and the person who prosecuted his case urging release, the parole board denied his parole again in May 2007. 172 Human Rights Watch telephone interviews with Jennifer Bishop-Jenkins, Northfield, Illinois, April 26, 2007, and September 27, 2007. 173 Human Rights Watch interviews with Melanie Washington, Long Beach, California, August 13, 2007, and October 9, 2007. Washington founded a community outreach program, Mentoring A Touch From Above, which works with youth who are incarcerated. She is the recipient of the Points of Light 2001 Presidential Community Service Award. 174 Ibid. 175 California Penal Code §190(e). 176 Human Rights Watch telephone interview with Bill Pelke, Anchorage, Alaska, September 27, 2007. |