Teens Sentenced to Life in Prison

The answer to whether teenagers who commit capital felony offenses should be sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole is different, depending on who you talk to. In 2007, a Utah jury sentenced Robert Cameron Houston to life in prison for the rape and murder of a Utah woman. At the time of the crime in 2006, Houston was a juvenile—only 17 years old. His counsel is currently appealing that sentence, calling the sentence cruel and unusual punishment for a then 17-year-old minor. Houston is the only juvenile in Utah to receive a life in prison sentence.

There are many questions that a judge and jury should consider when faced with this type of situation. Some research shows that a person’s tendency towards violence decreases with age. According to Utah Supreme Court Chief Justice Christine Durham, the jury in Houston’s case was not advised of this research.

As a juvenile or the parent of a juvenile facing serious criminal charges in Utah, you need to be fully aware of all the rights that you or your child has. One right is to have the best defense you can get. Juveniles make mistakes, and sometimes as a result of those mistakes, crimes occur. However, if it makes sense to you that rehabilitation might be the answer as opposed to be locking up a juvenile offender and throwing the key away, hire a qualified Utah juvenile defense attorney without delay. Your child’s future may depend upon your actions today.