Juvenile Life Without Parole | Milbank LLP
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- Опубликовано: 6 фев 2025
- In the US, over 1,000 people sentenced as children are still serving life sentences in prison with no hope for parole. Inspired by the work of Bryan Stevenson, Milbank began working with the Equal Justice Initiative and the Louisiana Center for Children’s Rights on numerous pro bono cases in this area, helping to secure new sentences for clients who were sentenced as children and deemed ineligible for parole.
This video tells the story of one of these clients, Edward Simms, who was granted parole and released from prison after spending over three decades incarcerated for burglaries he committed at the age of 16. Hear his story, and learn how crucial pro bono support can be in juvenile life without parole cases.
His story just goes to show, we're not mature enough when we are kids to understand the severe consequences of our actions. But, thank God, He gives us the opportunity to change, and learn from our mistakes. Wish you well my brother.
Thank you Ronnie. Mistakes and choices are like experiments. Ultimately there's a lesson in them, but what will those lessons cost?
I could see if he committed 3 murders, but 3 life sentences for robbery? That is outrageous.
If u can't do the time then don't do the crime.
@@David-sx7on So should someone who jaywalks get life too?
A kid who commits 3 home break ins without weapons should not be sentenced to life. Period. If it were murder or rape I would disagree. I'm a supporter of the death penalty. What I am not supportive of is letting a kid get a life sentence for a crime that involved no violence while a murderer gets off in less time. That's why we have a constitution.
@@jacobthompson6265 I don't agree with that. But the law is the law. I think the US has some serious f@#$ed up laws. The majority agrees with that.
Actually, I was given 5 Life sentences, 124 years, and 36 months total for robbery at age 16. Yes, this Edward Simms from the documentary. Google my company's name, YOU'RE WORTH THE FIGHT, INC. and you can see what I'm trying to accomplish on behalf of others. I now advocate independently in addition to my organizational role.
As a single mom who watched her teenage son be sentenced to life in prison I cried through this whole video. It does give me hope that one day before I die I might see my son free.
Thank joe biden& bill clinton
@@alexd8123 really ? Because you have made every right decision in life 🥴
God bless you and your son for the pain you have experienced.
@angela what did your son do?
Alex D would be a victim down state facts
I was once that brother of a older brother. When me coming out seeing my brother , was the feeling of a life time and saying won't mess up again. Done to many and , til this day I'm still out. Thank God I'm safe. "Still learning on these new era technologies and figuring the life change in my eyes seeing blind as everything change around while I was in. Congratulations on this man's release and a free man.
Congrats on still being out there. I've been out almost 18 months myself. January 10, 2021, will be two years that I have been home. I run my own company and provide an independent advocacy service to incarcerated brothers and sisters. I cover three states today, but I'm aiming for five real soon. (email: youreworththefight45@gmail.com)
This is the type of work that inspires me to continue to pursue my degree in Criminal Justice! I can see myself helping men and women live their lives like they're meant to!
Don't do the crime if you can't do the time. No mercy for thugs!!
This is a Great story. Not everyone is a ,'Career Criminal" Hope he has a a Fantastic life NOW. Hard to Not Hate after all that. Says alot about his Character !!!!
Good morning Kevin:
I saw your comment yesterday and wanted to thank you personally for your thoughts. I've been home just under eighteen months and I'm now the President and Founder of "YOU'RE WORTH THE FIGHT, INC." I provide an independent post-conviction service. I specialize in clemency and parole petitions. I have gotten others out of prison through the aforementioned processes and I've a 75% success rate. I've cases in California, Georgia, and Virginia. My office is based in Norfolk, VA. We focus on re-entry, juvenile prevention, and feeding the homeless as well. I had a few speaking engagements and much more. Just thought that you would like an update. Thanks again.
Fantastic work Milbank USA. From one of the team in Milbank London
Very good folk,please keep up the great work....
To my MILBANK and EQUAL JUSTICE INITIATIVE FAMILY, thank you. I'll speak with you soon.
I have screen shots and information I'll be sharing with MILBANK about Mr simms and some emails from other incarcerated individuals that Mr simms is scamming and using your company name. Please msg me directly as he is erasing my comments so people cannot see them. I'm sure your firm would be embarrassed at his current actions
Even got himself a fiancé too in next to no time. Salute Brother!!
Man when he hugged his aunt and she started crying, that made me tear up man.. what a beautiful story
People acting tough about the “let’s lock em up and throw away the key.” Then they know somebody personally and decide “wait now that this impacts me personally I changed my mind.”
LIFE without parole for robbery?! Incompetent judge and lawmakers. How dare you could do that mistake. That's sad. On the other hand, many criminals get away with lesser sentence for MURDER. That's called INJUSTICE SYSTEM.
What a great work you are doing.
Thank God for these lawyers were hard to get him out God bless you for helping him sad story
Start arresting people that have kids and don’t take care of them
Got my Vote R.C
Like my mom
We couldn't build big enough jails lol
I absolutely agree that's the problem
@Andy Mann LOL western culture? Being irresponsible and not taking your kids is not a culture it’s being a scumbag and not stepping up like a man and taking care of your responsibility.
They were just throwing young black men away. Being poor is really a crime.
If you have to be Rich in Mind. Easier said than done..
They throw young Hispanic, Caucasian, African, and so on, men away everyday. It ain’t the color of your skin, but the number of your dollars, that you are judged by in this country.
Poor people get f*cked over constantly.
a truly uplifting and inspiring story. and thank you for the information about how to get involved
Good luck in getting out my bro 💪💪💪💪💪
Greetings, I appreciate your sentiment. I hope that you were able to get involved as well. I'd like to see how everything turned out. Keep me posted.
@@rachelhowells702 Good morning, I read your comment and wanted to say thank you for your sentiment. It has been almost 18 months since I was released. Now, I work as an independent advocate for the release of others incarcerated. Google my company's name and follow our progress. YOU'RE WORTH THE FIGHT, INC. (email: youreworththefight45@gmail.com)
Congratulations 🎉🎊🎈🍾Edward; I’m so happy 😁 for you! ENJOY your life 💜
The worst of the worst, like child abusers.,rape and etc don't do time like that. Even though they should be put UNDER the prison!!! Prayers to you, brother!!!!
Ol’ Boy gets out just in time for COVID-19. Spends the next year saying: “This ain’t nothing... What are y’all crying about?”.
Thank God 4 Edward. Amazing Strong Man.He has a great attitude after what was done to Him. God Bless.
This is a compelling story and feel strongly that people deserve a second chance.
You let him sleep on you're couch in you're house with you're kid's then
Depends on the crime
Depends
U a clown u comment like he killed a kid or someone helpless lmao
Yes I agree America's treatment of juvenile "criminals" is crazy
Great program, you people are fabulous!
I hope he find love and live his best life I'm happy for him
Hats off to the young ladies that helped him you are true heros 💯
Man everybody saying this put tears in there eyes i have tears wish we can have updates on this brother
What a sad, bit great story! I hope you all the best! 😍
Outstanding and hope to others in the same situation.
My god....how inspiring is it to see, the kids whose life’s were stolen locked away for good. Now have hope that there may be a second chance at life! 😊❤️
Let's think also about those that were just killed 😳
The key is not to commit 3 felonies period
I wish him nothing but the best
How strong do you have to be mentally and physically to do 32 years with nothing to lose no family salute to him 🙏
Life in prison is for crimes so heinous that the person is just a danger to everyone around them. Rape, murder, sexual abuse against minors not for theft not even for armed robbery.
It made me cry when Edward went to see his aunty
Life without parole shouldn't be an option for non-violent offenders....
Technically it was violent because it was armed robbery
@@natepuglise4386 unarmed*
Everybody deserves a second chance especially kids
No. Murderers don't. They deserve the death penalty.
@@jacobthompson6265 not if its self defense you idiot what you just gonna let another human harm you why are you even watching this to hate and be ignorant yes some people deserve the death penalty like child molesters and mass murders also killing a human for no reason at all
@@tjeym8897 Nobody said that dumb dumb. Self defense isn't murder so it would not qualify anyways. Anyone with half a sense of logic would be able to reach that conclusion.
@@jacobthompson6265 you said murderers deserve the death penalty what are you smoking to be classed as a murderer all you gotta do is catch a body idiot
I Don t think everybody deserves a second change, there are a lot of people, who Don t. But it s just extremly cruel and a form of murder itself to throw someone under 21 in prison untill he dies. Even If they murdered someone, it s a teenager, who isn t even allowed to drink alcohol..... Why should they just not have at least the chance to get the possibility for parole after serving f.e. 25 years, If they developed in a positive way. It just makes no sense and is morally completly wrong.
This fellow is full of happiness, wonder if I could overcome the bitterness at such draconian sentence. Probably equivalent to more than two life sentences in UK. Hope you find contentment, God bless.
IT’S SO WRONG ON SO MANY LEVELS , TO PUT ANY JUVENILE IN AN ADULT PRISON FOR A LIFE SENTENCE !!! NO CHILD SHOULD GET A LIFE SENTENCE WITHOUT A CHANCE OF PAROLE !!! THEN THEY HAVE NOTHING TO LIVE FOR & NOTHING TO LOOK TOO !!! AND THAT IS JUST WRONG !!!
The felonies at 16 ? You're never going to stop.at 25 you'll have 15 felonies.And the public will ask my god why has he been out for so long?
he commited three armed robberies in a span of two week. O well if he has life in prison and no parole. He was in shock because these young criminals get away with so much, its shocking to them when their punished. Him trying to blame ohh my auntie went to prison, is bs talk. he was just a violent young criminal.
Truly lovely folk,he done wrong and made good..god bless you buddy...👍😇😇👍
What a beautiful story I'm so sorry they did him like that an it is scary that they do this to kids an his aunt that all of this broke my heart that ain't fair this is so wrong to do to kids
As an individual who spent 118 months in prison, from age 27 to age 37, and was capable of handling himself in that type of environment, even I had some rough moments, so I can’t begin to imagine what that would be like at age 16, while knowing that there is no light at the end of that tunnel… Our “justice” system desperately needs reforming, in a myriad of ways, but the sentencing of children, not only to life imprisonment, but in adult facilities on top of that, damn well better be somewhere near the top of the list. It’s one thing for an adult to serve their sentence in “less than ideal conditions” (e.g inadequate/inedible nutrition, intermittent/nonexistent running/clean water, heating/cooling/ventilation issues, etc.), I’m not saying it’s right, but at least the adult knows how they ended up there and doesn’t have the same “plausible deniability” that a teenager does. The juvenile system is SUPPOSED to be focused on rehabilitation and to a lesser extent, education, vocational training and so on. Sadly, someone charged as an adult is likely to be housed as an adult, regardless of their age, so it’s essentially a crap shoot for the teenager, albeit with a lot more “dice” and vastly more complicated rules. I apologize for this long ass comment, something about this piece hit me in such a way that I felt compelled to share my thoughts.
Shedded tears 🙌
So sad hope they give him another chance all that time for not one murder is crazy
Children belong in juvenile facilities where they can have programs for these troubled kids they have the ability to change with counseling love faith anger manaagent classes they, need to be able to turn their life around they should not be in adult prison no way these kids need guidance hope
Not murderers, other than that I agree.
Rapist and child molesters don't change. They're sick in the head that no one can fix.
Good luck with that juvenile facilities is nothing but fighting and gangs look into people that have been everyone wants to go to adult jail
SIR you’ve proven your a great man, thank you.
Edward we all hope the very best for you. Do give up on yourself, and us. Welcome home
It sounds like he needed to be in jail at 16 but for 32+ years? No. The criminal justice system is broken in the US, thank God I live in Canada although its the same here so........
Born and raised and still in the good ole commonwealth of Virginia. I say that sarcastically. Our criminal justice system as a whole is broken. And commonwealth has it the worst.
Greensville is seriously like a city. It’s huge. Biggest on the east coast.
Did he get strikes?
Real glad my family went to da UK Not USA.. In my 50th Year
In Grenada South Caribbean we are only 4 Hours Away from the Coast of Florida..
If we came to USA not sure I would be ( of Right Mind ) or Walking Free ).. It's full of Land Mines..
All da Best Righteous People..
Wow thank the lord he paid his dues hope he has a chance to enjoy his life he has the love and support he did not have in his life God bless this man
I have an law and order mentality, but every case is different. People deserve consideration.
God bless you dude,stay positive
👍🏻well said. We know that the brain isn’t fully developed until age 25. Literal children being sent to adult prison is cruel and unjust.
Amazing ✊🏻✊🏽✊🏿
I cried through this whole video
What a powerful story
There's a young lady in Riverside she has life without she killed a MN who was violating her can you help I saw her story and I think she could be saved
It doesn't make sense to me why we have a separate juvenile justice system if minors can be waived through to the adult system.
What did he do to get those 50 to life sentences? everyone is talking about poverty, upbringing.talk about the senseless brutal crime that was committed.
ABSOLUTELY agree it's an utter disgrace that they are only talking about HIS upbringing. I have never even heard of 50 life sentences. Just boggles the mind don't know what more to say am just so dumbfounded!😳😳😳
He is definitely the singer tank's twin ❤🎉😅😊
So young doesn't deserve life without the parolee they should get the chance of be out again he will change as he gets older
Read chapter 1 of the book No Choirboy by Susan Kuklin. That's my friend!! His name is Roy Burgess jr.
First guy sounds like denzel Washington to T
Are entire system sucks!! Good work made me tear up!
Sentencing a juvenile to life without parole is not right
I am completely against it
I can see life sentences for extreme cases and the offender being around 16 or 17 (Not that i really support it either) but they should at some point be eligible for parole no matter how heinous the crime is
That’s fucking stupid
Don't do the crime if you can't do the time. No mercy for thugs!!
@@MichaelSacerdotus Thinking like that will only create more
They need to try to rehabilitate them
Not only to punish them. No child is born bad
i believe everyone deserves a 2nd chance no matter WHAT age. after 15 years they should be able to apply for parole!
so someone that raped then murdered someone should get released after 15? A person that molested a baby? Killed a baby? Mass murderers? School shooters? I think some deserve a second chance but crimes against children and the vulnerable as well as sex crimes deserve death. Not a second chance.
@@concentratecorner1744 well juveniles shouldn't be imprisoned imo
They need therapy or the social services should launch an investigation if a juvenile did smth like that he doesn't feel very good. I think juveniles should get help and not like prison
I do think adults should go to prison though
Unless they are insane then they need to go to a hospital rather than a prison
@@trololololol4354 if charged as a juvenile now 'juvenile life' usually doesnt exceed passed like 25
@@concentratecorner1744 still think juvenile facilities are bad it's kinda like jail i think they need smth else but that is my opinion
@@trololololol4354 yea i agree that not all facilities are capable of encouraging and facilitating rehabilitation and that needs to be changed. However a lot of them have multiple programs are rigorous counseling to ensure that... Then again its always up to the individual to be willing to change. But though i dont believe kids should be sentenced like adults (though most arent) some crimes do bring the need for a lengthy sentence. Murder, rape, and the like deserve a long stretch in my opinion. Imagine being the victim or family of a victim of something so horrible and because the kid is 16 he gets a slap on the hand? Doesnt seem like justice then does it?
Brought tears to my eyes God bless this man i hope he does good in life
What is not outrageous if you consider all factors? I think life with possibility of parole is up to par. Thoughts?
Great work
They in there for a reason. The victims wanted revenge but settled for justice instead
Awesome story
Other forms of punishments may be used for Juveniles instead of keeping them in Jails
How much did all these high end attorneys cost and who paid for that?? Couldn't be cheap
The unfortunate taxpayers paid for it that's who!
@@galegrazutis964the work is pro bono meaning that attorneys at the firm volunteer their time/billable hours to work on the cases they determine to be worthwhile or those in which a clear unjust sentence was applied.
So we are not going to discuss what they did to get life without parole? What about the victims?
Definitely a conversation to be had.
yeah I don't think him stealing a flat screen tv from someone will affect them that much hombre
How can we expect a adolescent to reform themselves for the better by putting them in prison for 20-30 years it's fight or flight as a young man serving a lengthy time ... Treating kids like caged animals will turn them into animals ....
Emotional
There are plenty of poor kids from bad neighborhoods that do not commit crimes. The culture has created this epidemic.
What makes me mad is when they charge a underage kid like an adult, that’s bs either he’s and adult or not if he’s not then don’t charge him like an adult
🤗❤❤❤❤❤💅💅💅💅
That’s crazy but let a sex offender out in 5
America, is the most prejudiced country on the planet...
If he’s getting all these years he’s done something very wrong!!!!!
Don't do the crime if you can't do the time. No mercy for thugs!!
this would have been a pretty powerfull short-form video if the lawyers would be left out
All the time in the world doesn't bring back my t.v, justice served I say.
🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾🥺😭🤧
That's awesome
Juveniles getting so much time is corrupt.
Don't do the crime if you can't do the time. No mercy for thugs!!
Yes he should have paid consequences for burglaries but not life. Im glad he was released
Don't do the crime if you can't do the time. No mercy for thugs!!
Some people believe the reason this happens is because it provides cheap labour, so its more about a slave labour force versus justice.
Don't do the crime if you can't do the time. No mercy for thugs!!
all it does make use taxs payers pay for them the rest ther lifes so unfar to use people
See how long he stays out
You mean he wasn't sent a juvenile detention center? I hope someone steps up and advocates for Errol just like Calamari productions advocated for the release of Colt Lundy, Justin, Myers Folsom, and Paul Gingrich
God bless an
God Love them.AMEN
Act like an adult and commit adult crimes get adult sentences.
You are an example that there are animals that still exsist outside of prison as well. It's easy to make your comment when you didn't pay attention to the story.
@@patrickrobinson529 thank you sir
Here is an idea suppose that adults are reminded
of their self responsibilty
Their option to choose in the USA thoughts actions goals like 110% effort with children to make childhood
better than your own...
Band-aids after a snake bite do not remove the poison
Keep them in prion.
Omg let them go
Why not just have them killed ,they just cost tax payers money! 💉⚰️👍
No more then 10 years for juveniles.
There background and upbringing should be used to help correct improper sentences