TO THE HONORABLE MEMBERS OF THEINTER-AMERICAN COMMISSION ON HUMAN RIGHTS,ORGANIZATION OF AMERICAN STATES: ______________________________________________________________ PETITION ALLEGING VIOLATIONS OF THE HUMAN RIGHTSOF JUVENILES SENTENCED TO LIFE WITHOUT PAROLE IN THE UNITEDSTATES OF AMERICA

By the undersigned, appearing as petitioners and as counsel for the individual petitioners under the provisions of Article 23 of the Commission’s Rules of Procedure: __________________________ _______________________ Steven Macpherson Watt Deborah LaBelleAnn Beeson Kary MossHuman Rights Working Group American Civil Liberties Union of MichiganAmerican Civil Liberties UnionSubmitted: February 21, 2006

PETITION ALLEGING VIOLATIONS OF THE HUMAN RIGHTSOF JUVENILES SENTENCED TO LIFE WITHOUT PAROLE IN THE UNITEDSTATES OF AMERICATABLE OF CONTENTS

I. INTRODUCTION 3II. PETITIONERSA. Henry Hill.B. Barbara Hernandez.C. Kevin Boyd.D. Damion Todd.E. Patrick McLemore.F. Matthew Bentley, Maurice Black, Larketa Collier, Cornelius Copeland,John Espie, Maurice Ferrell, Mark Gonzalez, Chavez Hall, Lamar Haywood, Lonnell Haywood, Christopher Hynes, Ryan Kendrick, CedricKing, Eric Latimer, Juan Nunez, Sharon Patterson, Gregory Petty, TyroneReyes, Kevin Robinson, T.J. Tremble, Marlon Walker, Oliver Webb,Elliott Whittington, Ahmad Williams, Johnny Williams, Leon Williamsand Shytour Williams.G. American Civil Liberties Union and American Civil Liberties Union of Michigan.44556677III. JUVENILES LIFE WITHOUT PAROLE IN THE UNITED STATES ANDTHE STATE OF MICHIGAN: DOMESTIC LAW AND FACTSA. Domestic Law.B. Factual Statement of Petitioners’ case.1. Henry Hill.2. Barbara Hernandez.3. Kevin Boyd.4. Damion Todd.5. Patrick James McLemore.88111113151719IV. APPLICATION OF THE AMERICAN DECLARATION TO THE UNITEDSTATES AND THE COMMISSION’S INTERPRETIVE MANDATE20V. HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS AND LEGAL ANALYSISA. The Treatment of the Petitioners Violates the US’s Obligations Under theAmerican Declaration.1. Imposition of a Life Sentence Without Possibility of Parole on theIndividual Petitioners Violates their Right to Special ProtectionUnder (Art. VII).a. Incarceration for the Shortest Duration. b. Right to Rehabilitation.2. JLWOP constitutes cruel, infamous or unusual punishment (Art.2224242526271

XXVI) and violates the right to humane treatment (Art.I).a. Non-Physical Harm and Abusive Forms of DetentionViolate Articles I and XXVI. b. The American Declaration and International StandardsRequire that Age Be Taken into Account in DeterminingWhat Constitutes Cruel, Inhumane, Infamous and UnusualPunishment.c. Application to Facts.3. The Mandatory System of Moving Juveniles into the Adult JusticeSystem and Imposing Mandatory LWOP Violates Art. XVIII,XXIV, XXV and XXVI’s Guarantee of Due Process in Conjunctionwith Art. VII’s Requirement of Special Protection for Children.a. Different Criminal Procedures are Required in Light of theSpecial Needs and Interests of Juveniles. b. Mandatory Life Sentences Are Inappropriate for Juveniles.c. Application to Facts.B. Juvenile Life Without Parole Violates Customary International Law.2829293233353638VI. PROCEDURAL REQUIREMENTSA. Exhaustion of Domestic Requirements.1. The United States and the State of Michigan Do Not ProvideEffective Remedies for the Rights Violated.a. US Courts Reject Challenges to JLWOP Sentences.2. U.S. Courts Do Not Recognize a Right to Special Protection.3. Statutory Exclusion.B. Timeliness.1. Henry Hill.2. Barbara Hernandez.3. Kevin Boyd.4. Damion Todd.5. Patrick McLemore.6. Post 1996 Petitioners.C. Duplication of Proceedings.4141414244454646474747484848VII. CONCLUSION AND PETITION 48VIII. ANNEXESA. Additional Petitioners.B. Affidavit of Henry Hill, Jr.C. Affidavit of Barbara Hernandez.D. Affidavit of Kevin M. Boyd.E. Affidavit of Damion Todd.F. Affidavit of Patrick McLemore.G. Michigan Compiled Laws Annotated (selected sections).H. Michigan cases.2