Would you like to invite the Coalition to present to your class, church group, or organization? We’d love to have the chance to share more information about juvenile life without parole here in Nebraska and nationally with you!

Please fill out the information below. A representative of the Coalition will get back to you to confirm your speaking request.

Juan Castaneda, 17, was found guilty of two counts of first-degree murder and one count of attempted murder on Friday, October 8. Castaneda was 15 when he participated with two older youth in a series of robberies that led to the deaths of Luis Fernando-Silva and Tari Glinsmann. Although Castaneda did not personally fire shots, his participation made him eligible for being sentenced to life without the possibility of parole because of the felony murder rule.

Castaneda should be held responsible for his crimes.  However, the Coalition continues to believe that there are sentencing mechanisms that can better serve the needs of society and young offenders, who are often more susceptible to peer pressure and lack the judgment and maturity of adults.

For more information:

Omaha World-Herald: “Teen has life behind bars to think about deadly night”

Coalition Coordinator Mel Beckman’s Editorial:

Omaha World-Herald: ” Life in prison not suitable for teens.”

This post was submitted by Daniel. Daniel was sentenced to life without parole for a crime he committed at 16. He has since spent 13 years behind bars. Daniel shares some of his thoughts about prison and the changes that have occurred within him in the poem that follows.

Solitude – Sept. 30, 2010

Locked up here and doing my time. Made many mistakes in my short lifetime. I was way outta line, was given an inch and took a mile. Sitting here thinking all the while, what was I thinking why didn’t I care, for my family and friends, for them this just isn’t fair. They loved me, they trusted me, gave to me outta kindness. The only thing I gave to them in return is this prison time. I deeply regret the things I did and even said, to hurt my family, friends, and society. Now its those memories I try to erase while lying here alone upon my bed. The damage is done, their worlds have crumbled, because of my mistakes and actions. I now look upon God and all of you to help me, outta this place, to the Lord I repent my sins and ask of his forgiveness, as well as society’s.

Will you please forgive me ?!?

To regain the trust of my family, friends, and the society is what I’m trying to do, for what I did was wrong, of this there’s no doubt but I must be forgiven both inside and out. However for me this pain and sorrow, I’ll never be able to escape. Everything I ever had is gone, with nothing to show for it but prison time. I used to always say “It won’t happen to me I’m a kid,” but take a look at me now. For what I said and thought, life without parole at the age of 16, while sitting here thinking about this for the past 13 years upon my bed. I’d give it my all for a second chance at freedom. For that’s what I must do however it won’t just be for me, it’ll be for all of you. The ones I owe it all to, oh, the sweet smells of home I long for. This time I’ve spent under prison rules has taught me things I’ll never forget.

- Daniel

This post was written by Justeen . Justeen is currently 34 years old and has been in prison for 16 years. In this post, she explains the changes she’s undergone, the skills she’s acquired, and why she feels she’s ready to have a chance in society. If only Nebraska’s laws gave her and others like her that chance…

Hello again. I’ve decided to give you a synopsis of just what I meant when I said that I have been rehabilitated and have grown from a youth to a woman with credentials which could most definitely prove my ability to be a functional citizen in the place called society, that I left before I even had a clear understanding of what living was, especially in a model manner.

In 1994 I received my GED. I have even completed classes from the South East Community College where I have credits in Business, Math, Spelling, Keyboarding, and Algebra I. I attended and completed these classes, but later the college pulled out of the institutions. There were other classes I took but due to the fact that they pulled out, I did not have the chance to fully complete them.

I have numerous job skills:

1. Cook – I have made meals for the total population. In doing that I earned a food service certification. I feel that I am the master here as far as creating salads and a lot of different in dishes in quantities of 300 or more servings.
2. CSI (Cornhusker State Industries) Sewing Factory – My job here consisted of being a Seamstress (making shirts, jeans, pants, towels, washcloths, bags, sheets, pillowcases, and blankets), a Cutter  (keeping track of all patterns, yardage, materials, and laying out all orders). I’ve learned to use a Big Cutter (Blue Streak), a hand cutter, and a table cutter. I was also a Mechanic. I fixed all machines in the factory. I took mechanic classes with professional machine mechanics from the outside. I learned how to change blades, needles, to adjust speed on the machines, how to replace broken parts, including the motor. I also learned how to time all machines. I also worked in “Quality Control.” I checked all shirts, pants, sheets, jeans, towels, bags, blankets, any and all items made in the factory from CSI, fixed all mistakes, boxed all orders, and signed off on them when they were ready to go.

I’ve taken numerous self help classes and participated in activities. They include: Cognitive Self Change; Oasis- Restorative Justice; Drawing; Reading & Writing Group; Scrapbooking; Crocheting; Painting; Quilling; Singing in the Choir; Volleyball (I got many certificates for this); Tennis; Softball; Kickball; Soccer; Yoga; and Making and Creating Greeting Cards, which is how I spend my time today.

A very important class for me was Healthy Eating. This was due to the eating disorder I developed as a young teenager coming into a place where I became depressed. I had a low self-image, low self esteem from guilt, pain, shame. I used to feel that I should have been the person that died, but through prison fellowship, Bible Studies, prayers, counselors and my family, along with other people that came in and out of my life, told me and helped me realize that I do matter and God has plans for my life and life is worth living. May God be given the Glory; I no longer fight this battle.

Yes, I’ve grown up. I am an adult now. There is not need for the taxpayers to continue to pay to warehouse the woman I’ve become today. I assure you I will make a productive, law-abiding citizen, if given the chance.

Sincerely and Respectfully,

Justeen

If you are interested in joining the efforts of the Nebraska Coalition for the Fair Sentencing of Youth, there are several steps you can take.

• Consider signing up for our email list (right side of the page), to receive periodic information about Coalition meetings, projects, and successes.
• Find Us on Facebook! Please like our page and keep the digital discussion going.

• Join us for a Coalition meeting. Meetings are held in the Education Wing of Augustana Lutheran Church (3647 Lafayette Ave, Omaha, NE 68131)  the first Wednesday of every month at 7PM.

• Contact your state senator and tell them that you support the end of life without possibility of parole for juveniles.

Not sure who your state senator is or how to get in touch with them? Check out Find Your Senator on the Nebraska Legislature’s website. Just type in your address and your senator’s name and a link to their website will appear.

• Tell your family, friends, and acquaintances. Spread the word and help get others involved in ending mandatory life without parole for juveniles.

If you are interested in more information or would like to get involved with the Nebraska Coalition for the Fair Sentencing of Youth, please contact us.

Coalition Coordinator: Mel Beckman (melbeckman@cox.net)

Mailing Address: 3636 Lafayette Ave, Omaha, NE 68131

Phone Number: 402.558.2085

On Friday, August 6th, Omaha teenager Trevelle Taylor was sentenced to life without the possibility of parole. Taylor was 17-years-old when, along with another man, he fired shots into the car of 20-year-old Justin Gaines. One of the shots fatally wounded Gaines.

Taylor’s sentence brings the number of individuals serving sentences of life without the possibility of parole for offenses committed in their youth in Nebraska to 25. Per capita, Nebraska ranks 8th among states in its use of these sentences.

Justin Gaines’s death is a tragedy, and Taylor must be held accountable for his actions. The Coalition continues to believe that accountability must be balanced by our understanding of the neurological and emotional differences between youth and adults. Research tells us that we cannot be certain of what sort of man Taylor will become — of whether he will work to take responsibility for his actions and use his remorse to fuel changes within himself. The sentence of life without the possibility of parole prevents us from reviewing — decades from now — whether such changes have occurred. Prohibiting the sentence of life without the possibility of parole for youth would not guarantee Taylor — or anyone else’s — release. It would only aknowledge that in the cases of youth we cannot declare without certainty that no changes will occur.

More Information:
Omaha World-Herald – “Taylor Gets Life in Prison”

“These youths need a ray of hope where they can start making efforts to restore, however little or much, some moral balance lost by what they have done.”