The Wisconsin Supreme Court has recently agreed to hear the case of Omer Ninham, a young man (now age 26) who, at age 14, was convicted of homicide in a case in Green Bay. He was sentenced to life without parole. Building on the relatively recent ruling by the US Supreme Court that non-homicide youth must have at least some chance for their LWOP sentences to be reviewed, Ninham’s attorneys argue that he also ought to have some chance at being considered for release rather than being sentenced to die in prison. Wisconsin is one of 18 states that permit a LWOP sentence, and Omer Ninham is the only youth in Wisconsin prison today who was given that sentence at age 14. The Equal Justice Initiative, located in Alabama, is leading his appeal effort.
Language Access in Wisconsin
Wisconsin’s diversity is one of our greatest strengths. But when children and their families face language access barriers, they are often excluded from critical information and services, which can hinder their development and well-being.
