.
Jordan Brown was just eleven when according to prosecutors
he shot and killed 26-year-old Kenzie Houk as she slept in her
home, near Pittsburgh, in February, 2009. Houk was pregnant
with a nearly full-term child at the time.
he shot and killed 26-year-old Kenzie Houk as she slept in her
home, near Pittsburgh, in February, 2009. Houk was pregnant
with a nearly full-term child at the time.
Jordan was charged with two counts of homicide.
When Jordan claimed he was innocent the judge decided to
try him as an adult. Some news reports make it sound as if the evidence is quite strong against Jordan but some blog sites give quite a different story showing that the evidence is actually
weak.
When Jordan claimed he was innocent the judge decided to
try him as an adult. Some news reports make it sound as if the evidence is quite strong against Jordan but some blog sites give quite a different story showing that the evidence is actually
weak.
But even if he were guilty the sentence is regarded by many
human rights groups as too harsh and even that a life sentence could violate international law.
human rights groups as too harsh and even that a life sentence could violate international law.
Brown's lawyers have argued that the judge's decision to try
Brown as an adult based upon his refusal to admit guilt
violated his right to be presumed innocent and his right
to avoid self-incrimination as well.
Brown as an adult based upon his refusal to admit guilt
violated his right to be presumed innocent and his right
to avoid self-incrimination as well.
Susan Lee of Amnesty International said:"It is shocking that
anyone this young could face life imprisonment without parole,
let alone in a country which labels itself as a progressive force
for human rights," Amnesty noted that the U.S. is one of only
two countries in the world to refuse to ratify the UN
Convention on the Rights of the Child. The other country
is Somalia!
anyone this young could face life imprisonment without parole,
let alone in a country which labels itself as a progressive force
for human rights," Amnesty noted that the U.S. is one of only
two countries in the world to refuse to ratify the UN
Convention on the Rights of the Child. The other country
is Somalia!
Although Jordan Brown is the youngest person known to
Amnesty at risk to be sentenced to life without parole
there are already 2500 people in the U.S. serving life
without parole for crimes committed when they were
juveniles. There are 450 in Pennsylvania, more than
any other state.
Amnesty at risk to be sentenced to life without parole
there are already 2500 people in the U.S. serving life
without parole for crimes committed when they were
juveniles. There are 450 in Pennsylvania, more than
any other state.
The Sentencing Project in Washington claims that only
the U.S. has juveniles serving life without parole and
said:"That leads to only two conclusions: either kids
in the US are far more violent than those in the rest
of the world, or the US has developed uniquely
harsh sentences." Another conclusion is possible.
The politics of fear can be very successful at advancing
the cause of the prison industrial complex.
the U.S. has juveniles serving life without parole and
said:"That leads to only two conclusions: either kids
in the US are far more violent than those in the rest
of the world, or the US has developed uniquely
harsh sentences." Another conclusion is possible.
The politics of fear can be very successful at advancing
the cause of the prison industrial complex.
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