Life sentences or sentences of an extreme length have a disproportionate impact on children and cause physical and psychological harm that amounts to cruel, inhuman or degrading punishment” says the UN Special Rapporteur on Torture, Juan E. Méndez, in his thematic report on children deprived of liberty. Exploring the international legal framework and standards protecting children deprived of their liberty from being subjected to torture or other ill-treatment, and from experiencing developmentally harmful and torturous conditions of confinement, the report says that the United States is the only country that continues the practice of sentencing children to life without parole. Read more…