How do competing explanations of deviance compare to juveniles serving life sentences in prison? America is the only country that incarcerates people under the age of 18 to life imprisonment (Knafo 2013). The scientist claims that the full level of maturity is reached only when a person is around 20 years old. Immature children without adult brains commit adult crimes and serve adult sentences. For what? The answer lies in the explanations of deviance. Statistics indicate that nearly 3,000 juveniles incarcerated in U.S. prisons are sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole (EJI). Each case contains ample evidence demonstrating that deviant behavior led to bad actions and ultimately a life sentence. For example, Sara Kruzan was embarking on a life of socially deviant behavior. She was forced into prostitution and under the domineering control of a pimp. Eventually, the amount of deviant behavior she was exposed to caused her to reach her boiling point and kill her pimp. So the result was that one deviant behavior caused another form of deviant behavior which led to Sara Kruzan serving a life sentence at the age of 13. Fortunately, the state in which the crime was committed established new laws and Sara was later released from prison. (Knafo 2013). Unlike Sara, many other juveniles serving life sentences are still waiting to be released. In this article, I would like to discuss three of these minors and the congruent explanation of deviance. The arrangement will be as follows:1. Cyntoia Brown (Biosocial Explanation)2. Jacob Ind (psychological)3. Erik Jensen (sociological)Three Explanations of DevianceUnderstanding the three explanations of deviance reveals the complexity or deviant behavior of each j...... middle of article ......are relevant to juveniles serving time life prison sentence. Works Cited Bikel, O. (Director). (2007). When children have life [Documentary]. United States: WGBH Educational Foundation. Birman, DH (director). (2011). Me facing life [Documentary]. United States: Cinema Guild. Deviance. (2001). In World of Sociology, Gale. Retrieved from http://www.credoreference.com/entry/worldsocs/devianceEqual Justice Initiative. (nd). Children in an adult prison. Retrieved November 14, 2013 from http://www.eji.org/childrenprisonKnafo, S. (September 20, 2013). Here are all the countries where children are sentenced to die in prison. The Huffington Post. Retrieved November 14, 2013 from http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/09/20/juvenile-life-without-parole_n_3962983.html Thio, A., Calhoun, T. C., & Conyers, A. (2010). Readings on Deviant Behavior (6th ed.). Boston: Allyn and Bacon.