Colorado Kids
The Pendulum Foundation strives to ensure that juveniles caught in the legal system
are treated AS juveniles. While it is true that some of these kids commit heinous and
horrific crimes and like anyone, should be punished for their actions, in most cases it
is believed that the juvenile brain is not developed sufficiently enough to allow a child
to fully understand their actions. That is not to say that a 15, 16 or 17 year old does
not know it is wrong to kill. However it does tells us that those same 15, 16 and 17
year olds simply do not contemplate the idea of the extent of what punishment they
may receive.
Life in prison without parole just doesn't sound the same to a teenager as it does to
a career criminal.
So when a child commits a crime and it is their very first offense, should they not be
given a chance to rehabilitate themselves rather than spend the rest of their lives
behind bars? The length of a life sentence to a 15 year old is actually more severe
than a life sentence to a 30 or 40 year old second or third time offender simply by
realizing the extended number of years they must serve.
We believe the laws in Colorado are open for change and we work dillegently to
bring about those changes and give kids another opportunity to benefit the
community and those they have actually offended against.
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We at Pendulum Foundation believe in
rehabilitation as well as retribution - and
that all children deserve a second chance.
To the right are the 5 cases highlighted on
the PBS Frontline special,
"WHEN KIDS GET LIFE" originally
broadcast on May 8, 2007
Joan Ostrow The Denver Post
"As she has done in several previous
award-winning efforts, writer-director-
producer Bikel tackles underlying social
questions and psychological motivations as
she explores a peculiar corner of American
criminal justice. Her speciality (sic) has
long been examinations of wrongful
convictions. ...
"'When Kids Get Life' joins the formidable
Bikel archive, beseeching us to think hard
about what constitutes justice."
Read all the reviews
Please read a Special Report from the
Denver Post about a unbelievable
miscarriage of justice. The story of Tim
Masters will give you pause for thought.
JACOB IND
He killed his parents after years of
abuse, but even some of the jurors
who convicted him wonder if he
deserved life without parole.
TREVOR JONES
Serving life without parole for a con
gone bad, Trevor Jones is an
example of the exacting logic of
Colorado's felony murder statute.
ANDREW MEDINA
A player in a botched carjacking,
he was only 15 when he was
charged with first-degree murder
and imprisoned; now he's serving
time at Colorado's maximum-
security facility.
NATHAN YBANEZ(L)
AND ERIK JENSEN
Erik was there when Nate killed
his abusive mother. Nate says Erik
didn't do anything, but they're both
serving life without parole for her
death.
Read the full Rolling Stone
article about Nathan Ybanez
courtesy of DenverPost.com
Donations can be made safely and securely
through PayPal
Or donate to Pendulum Juvenile Justice, a
501c4, for lobbying and legislative issues. Not
tax deductible.
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