By Jesse Russell

Amnesty International and Humans Rights Watch have accused the United States of being the only country that severely punishes juveniles on a regular basis. According to the organizations 2,225 child offenders are in prison for life in 42 American states. Worldwide, only one dozen other cases were found in three countries - Israel, South Africa and Tanzania. One-sixth of those that committed their offense were under 16, nearly sixty percent were given a life sentence for their first offense. In a quarter of he cases the offenders were found guilty of being present at the scene of a murder, but not actually committing the murder.

It's not a very merry Christmas for Arizona's immigrant population, as a federal judge lifted the injunction against Proposition 200 yesterday allowing it to take effect. Approved in a state ballot initiative, the law requires state workers to check the legal residency of those applying for benefits. And if an applicant is found to lack proper documentation, the law requires state employees to report the person in writing or face a misdemeanor charge. Proposition opponents are planning to appeal to the 9th US Circuit Court of Appeals.

It's not a very merry Christmas for Arizona's immigrant population, as a federal judge lifted the injunction against Proposition 200 yesterday allowing it to take effect. Approved in a state ballot initiative, the law requires state workers to check the legal residency of those applying for benefits. And if an applicant is found to lack proper documentation, the law requires state employees to report the person in writing or face a misdemeanor charge. Proposition opponents are planning to appeal to the 9th US Circuit Court of Appeals.