Hill v. Snyder
The American Civil Liberties Union and the ACLU of Michigan filed a lawsuit on behalf of nine Michigan citizens who were sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole for crimes committed when they were minors.
Michigan law requires that children as young as 14 who are charged with certain felonies be tried as adults and, if convicted, sentenced without judicial discretion to life without parole. Judges and juries are not allowed to take into account the fact that children bear less responsibility for their actions and have a greater capacity for change, growth and rehabilitation than adults. The ACLU charges that a sentencing scheme that denies the plaintiffs an opportunity for release constitutes cruel and unusual punishment and violates their constitutional right to a fair hearing to demonstrate their growth, maturity and rehabilitation.
 "We are railroaded by an adult system that isn't equipped to properly handle juveniles." |
 "I didn't know what was going on . . . . Through the trial I just kind of sat there." |
 While in prison, Henry completed his high school education, has earned vocational qualifications, and has exhausted all available programs and resources. |
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