‘Juvenile lifers’ deserve to be resentenced

I am writing to applaud the efforts of so many nationally and locally who are refusing to go along with the “lock ‘em up and throw away the key” mentality so often applied to juveniles.

I also want to draw attention to our N.C. attorney general, who refuses to uphold laws passed by our state legislature yet is fighting to keep nearly 200 juveniles from being resentenced under two recent Supreme Court rulings banning mandatory life without parole terms on juveniles. Our attorney general doesn’t believe juveniles can change or deserve a second chance, in spite of scientific evidence and common sense.

I am a lifer who obtained a master’s degree in Biblical studies, countless other certificates and presently am on an inmate panel at Piedmont Correctional, where we speak to criminal justice students and at-risk youth. One little girl came forward after listening to my story to confess she was being sexually abused.

By refusing juveniles a second chance, the attorney general is robbing North Carolina of valuable lives. I deeply regret my crime but I am so grateful to so many in our society who volunteer to help us who have become lepers in today’s society.

— William S. Walker

Salisbury

Editor’s note: Walker, an inmate at Piedmont Correctional Institution, was sentenced in 1998 to life in prison for first-degree murder in Stokes County. He was 17 at the time of the crime. In North Carolina, a juvenile is a person who is under 16 when he/she is accused of committing a crime.

Politicians have cover

What a screwed-up government we have. The FBI has Edward Snowden on top of their most-wanted list and they have recommended that the Justice Department not prosecute Hillary Clinton for the same crime.

They both released government secrets on their phone. Maybe Snowden should have been a politician. He could come back to the country with no fear of prosecution. Any time someone gets in trouble, they should claim they are an elected official.

— Tony Morgan

Salisbury