http://abcnews.go.com/US/story?id=93887&page=1
This article discusses the debate on the severe sentencing that some juveniles are experiencing in the hopes to deter other juveniles from committing similar crimes. The article speaks of two specific cases, one where a 14 year-old is sentenced as an adult to life in prison without parole for first-degree murder in the wrestling death of his 6 year-old playmate, and the second where a 15 year-old was arrested for a fatal shooting spree in Santana High School with the courts trying to sentence him as an adult.
Critics within the article discuss that juveniles are not the same as adults and juveniles spending time in adult prisons is detrimental. On the other hand, laws presume that juvenile offenders weigh the costs and benefits before committing the crime. We know this is not true simply by looking at the theory of development, juveniles can be impulsive without fully considering costs and benefits. With the research out there that describes the risks and challenges of placing juveniles in adult prisons, especially without parole, it is concerning to me that there are state laws that still allow this to happen.
I saw this article and I severely questioned how a 14 year old who was must likely just wrestling for fun with the 6 year old was charged for first degree murder. How can we expect a 14 year old to truly know that what they've always seen done in wresting like headlocks could result in death. There is a major difference between a child playing with a peer and going on a shooting spree. It's alarming how one of these deaths could've of resulted from Innocent play and the other purposely can be given the same sentence and seen in the same light by our judicial system.
ReplyDeleteThis is very frustrating that the difference between these two cases result in similar sentencing. One could have been due to lack of knowledge that wrestling can lead to death, whereas the other was most likely planned out and was executed intentionally. We have to also look at how charging these youth with these charges what disservice we are doing these youth by instead of getting them the help and education they need, we are simply putting them through the system.
ReplyDeleteThis article was definitely frustrating to read. There is so much research on child behavior and rehabilitation, but people still seem to be so ignorant. If people would do the research and educate themselves they would know that there is a great amount of positives that can come in the world if rehabilitation occurs for the youth who commit crimes.
ReplyDeleteI absolutely agree that this article is frustrating to read. These were two young teens, being very highly compared, despite what sound to be very different circumstance. The most troubling part of this to me, however, is that these two cases are used as a deterrent to other teens. Again, this assumes that teens committing any kind of crime are doing it premeditated, or are considering the consequences of their actions prior to committing. Despite the growing knowledge and research about the brain and brain development, the juvenile justice system has yet to catch up and made changes accordingly.
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