A new ACLU study highlights the consequences of sentencing non-violent offenders to Life without parole (commonly known as LWOP).  Here’s the lede:

For 3,278 people, it was nonviolent offenses like stealing a $159 jacket or serving as a middleman in the sale of $10 of marijuana. An estimated 65% of them are Black. Many of them were struggling with mental illness, drug dependency or financial desperation when they committed their crimes. None of them will ever come home to their parents and children. And taxpayers are spending billions to keep them behind bars.

On a related note, Doug Berman notes that Sam Hurd, who once caught passes for the Dallas Cowboys, could be sentenced to life without parole after pleading guilty to a single drug transaction in April.  Hurd actually received a sentence of fifteen years, but because his case involved a large quantity of drugs, life was an option.  Hundreds of non-violent offenders have not been so lucky. (more…)