L-WOPs for Minors Cruel Punishment?

I believe that as a thirteen-year-old kid, life is way more confusing than it is for an adult. Things are hazy and full of "what ifs." Joe Sullivan was thirteen when he was convicted of sexually assaulting a 72-year-old woman. Sexual assault is no "what if" or accident, and by far not excusable due to age; but to penalize a thirteen year old with life without parole seems to be a bit to harsh to me. Life without parole provides no hope for the prisoner. They will spend the REST of their life behind bars. This makes sense for adults that have proved that they cannot abide by the laws, and have broken them in a completely unforgivable way, but for a thirteen-year-old kid, there is no possible way that life in prison with no chance of parole is right. The article Locked Away Forever? says "it seems inconsistent that one be denied the fruits of the tree of the law, yet subjected to all of its thorns." After reading the article, i asked myself a crucial question; does a child really understand the value of life? I believe that in order to serve life behind bars, you have to have had the opportunity to live, and really understand life for what it is. Life is not treated as a gift by a thirteen year old, and that is regular. It takes longer than thirteen years to really have a grasp on the meaning of responsibilities, consequences, and benefits of abiding by the law. Sexually harassing an old woman is in no way excusable, but I believe that in almost any case, that life behind bars, without the chance of parole is very harsh punishment, and is unfair.