The following is the transcript from a 30-minute live chat with reporter Sue Lindsay:

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sjohnson Question: Did you read the actual trial transcripts of these prisoners? These murders were brutal and cold blooded. Are you not worried that your article could result in some of these young men being released and killing again?

Gwen Answer: I read court documents with details of the cases. The murders were indeed brutal. Our hope is that our articles will prompt a discussion of the issue.

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Paul_at_Pendulum_Juvie_Justice Question: Hi Gwen,,,thanks for doing the series of articles

Gwen Answer: You're welcome.

sjohnson Question: While interviewing these young men did you fell that they actually had real remorse for the victims or was the remorse for themselves and the life they have ahead of them?

Gwen Answer: Hard to tell. It depended on the person. Most certainly seemed sorry that they were in prison for life. My sense was that, only after spending several years in prison were they beginning to realize the consequences of what they'd done.

Paul_at_Pendulum_Juvie_Justice Question: Gwen, our research showed the the average sentences of these guys in Texas juvenile facilities was 4-6 years for murder, and get extensive treatment with almost no recidivism,,,did you find that too?

Gwen Answer: As you know, we cannot rely solely on research from an advocacy group. We requested statistics from Texas, but the sampling was very small. However, the Texas program is clearly well-regarded around the country.

qwe Question: how does colorado compare to other states?

Gwen Answer: In what regard, please?

sjohnson Question: Thank you for running this series. It has made my family (a victim's family) realize how important it is for us to get involved with the legislature to prevent the current law from changing. We do not want the pain and sorrow we have experienced to happen to any other family.

qwe Question: with how strict it is in prosecuting juvies as adults and life sentences?

Gwen Answer: We contacted all 50 states in an effort to answer this very question. What we found was a wide variety in how states keep such statistics, making it tough to do an "apples-to-apples" comparison. However, it does appear as though Colorado has a comparatively high proportion of juveniles among its lifers. That's partly because of the way our sentencing laws are structured.

qwe Question: do colorado's leading politicians have much to say about juvies serving life terms? did you talk to them?

Gwen Answer: We spoke with Lynn Hefley, the legislator who sponsored the bill to review the state's sentencing procedures for juveniles. Obviously, she supports change, and her bill got bipartisan support in the Legislature. Gov. Owens vetoed that bill and, according to his office, continues to oppose any changes.

qwe Question: what reasons did owens give for his veto?

Gwen Answer: He said at the time that the present system deters violent crime.

sjohnson Question: 4 to 6 years for a life? Doesn't that seem more like a slap on the wrist?

Gwen Answer: You might want to direct that question to Paul from Pendulum.

Tim Hi, this is Tim, the moderator. Paul, would you like to respond to sjohnson's question?

Paul_at_Pendulum_Juvie_Justice Question: Hi, Paul here. Life is priceless--you can't put a dollar value on it, although insurance companies do. The question is of the child offender, and what is enough time. Almost all societies say that a kid should be rehabilitated and we agree with that. Then he gets out and becomes a role model to teach other people that what he did was wrong, which is the best deterrant.

sjohnson Question: Paul, can you please answer. Also, have you or anyone you know ever lost a family member to a violent crime?

Paul_at_Pendulum_Juvie_Justice Question: I can't imagine losing a family member that way. Yet, have you ever had a kid in your family do something wrong? Many families with teen boys do and these guys are just one step away from being these kids serving life...

Paul_at_Pendulum_Juvie_Justice Question: they get invovled with drugs & the 'wrong crowd'...it is very sad to see it happen. None of the guys serving life have violent records.

sjohnson Question: These vilent crimes are down, Paul? Are you saying the current system is NOT responsible for that?

sjohnson Question: Have you ever sat through a trial for a crime like one of these? What about a man convicted of murder just months beofre he's 18? Should he be spared a live sentence because he killed someone just short of his birthday?

qwe Question: is there any chance for these kids getting out? ever?

Gwen Answer: Not unless they win an appeal, the governor pardons them or commutes their sentences, or the Legislature changes the law and applies it retroactively.

Paul_at_Pendulum_Juvie_Justice Question: Hi sjohnson. I'd like to hear about the crime that hit your family. All victims' stories should be told.

qwe Question: the chances of the leg doing that are?

Gwen Answer: Tough to tell. The bill that was eventually passed this year would have only studied the issue without making any changes in the law.

qwe Question: study? how?

Gwen Answer: Now you're testing my faulty memory! I believe there would have been a series of meetings around the state, that would have sought public comment on the issue.

Paul_at_Pendulum_Juvie_Justice Question: Hi Gwen, how many people has the governor pardoned or granted clemency to in his 7 years in office?

Gwen Answer: One, as the story said, and I believe the case involved auto theft.

sjohnson Question: Paul, our story is told every year at the end of September. We hold a scholarship dinner in my nephews name. We have given 18 scholarships in the last nine years to honor the wonderful human being he was.

Paul_at_Pendulum_Juvie_Justice Question: That's correct Gwen--there would have been about 40 people on there from all criminal justice departments & members of the public. It would have taken comments and made recommendations.

qwe Question: when do these public meetings start?

Gwen Answer: They won't, because the governor vetoed the bill.

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qwe Question: oh, is hefly going to push this bill again?

Gwen Answer: She says she is; possibly in different form.

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Gwen Question: Thanks, everyone, for all of your questions. We're done now; enjoyed the conversation.

This is Tim, the moderator. Thanks to everyone for their questions and comments. We're going to leave now. I'll post the transcript soon. Thanks.

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