Teens in particular, should not be convicted life sentences. This is because the teen may have not known what they were doing. “Children are not adults”(Ferriss) that statement is saying that children should not be sentenced like adults. That is correct because when it comes down to the science a teen does not know right from wrong yet so they should not be sentenced for life. “The rational part of a teen’s brain isn’t fully developed and won’t be until age 25 or so”(Sather and Shelat). Peer pressure is another thing that teens experience when committing the majority of their crimes. “A 14-year-old boy in the presence of his peers will often do foolish and dangerous things”(Steinberg). The sentence fragment that was quoted is further
There are certain instances of juveniles being tried as adults and sometimes ending up getting a life sentence without a chance of parole. I find that pretty harsh because there have been some cases where the juvenile meant no harm, they were either confused or brought along by gang members and they end up being charged along with the gang members for just being with them when a crime goes down. I believe that juveniles do not deserve to be given a life sentence because for one they are still maturing, they can learn from their mistakes and make amends, we still have to combat crimes like intended murder committed by a juvenile with extreme punishments especially if they are well over the age of 16. In the article published by the New York Times on March 14, 2012 “Juveniles Don’t Deserve Life Sentences”, Garinger discusses that juveniles deserve a second chance since their brains are still developing.
Capital punishment, or the death penalty, is a legal process in which a person is put to death as a punishment for a crime by the government of a nation. The United States is in the minority group of nations that uses the death penalty. There are thirty-three states that allow capital punishment and seventeen states that abolished it (Death Penalty Information Center). The morality of the death penalty has been debated for many years. Some people want capital punishment to be abolished due to how it can cost a lot more than life imprisonment without parole, how they think it is immoral to kill, and how innocent people can be put to death.
Crimes are happening around us whether we pay attention to them or not. Those crimes as dangerous as murder are committed by all ages but should younger criminal in their juvenile age received the same punishment as older criminals. On June 25, 2012, the Supreme Court ruled that juveniles committed murder could not be sentenced to life in prison because it violates the Eighth Amendment.(On-Demand Writing Assignment Juvenile Justice) Advocates on the concurring side believes that mandatory life in prison is wrong and should be abolish. However, the dissenting side believe that keeping the there should be a life in prison punishment for juvenile who commit heinous crime regardless of their age.
Sentencing Sentencing occurs after a defendant has been convicted of a crime. During the sentencing process, the court issues a punishment that involves a fine, imprisonment, capital punishment, or some other penalty. In some states, juries may be entitled to determine a sentence. However, sentencing in most states and federal courts are issued by a judge. To fully understand the sentencing phase of criminal court proceedings, it is important to examine how sentencing affects the state and federal prison systems, learn the meanings of determinate and indeterminate sentencing, and understand the impact Proposition 57 has had on sentencing in California.
In 2012, the Supreme Court ruled that it is immoral to give juveniles life sentences, even if they commit a crime as serious as murder, because it is a cruel and unusual punishment. This has been an issue in America as teenagers are often treated as adults in court due to a belief that their crimes warrant a harsh punishment. Many believe that these kids should not be given such major sentences because they are still immature and do not have the self control that adults do. I agree that juveniles do not deserve life sentences because they put less thought and planning into these crimes and they often are less malicious than adults. The article “Startling Finds on Teenage Brains” explains that the teenagers lose brain tissue that is responsible for self control and impulses (Thompson 7).
Should teens go to adult prison? Do you believe teenage criminals should go to adult prison when teen crime is a serious issue in America? Teens should go to adult prison for committing a crime with the exception of petty and non violence crime because the end product of the crime is the same, teens have the understanding that they are committing the crime, and because adult prison is a punishment for violent criminals. Teens should go to prison because the end product of the crime is the same if an adult did it.
As people might argue that teens should not be tried as adults because they are only children and they do not realize their actions;
Death Penalty, Constitutional or Not Imagine a family member of yours was unjustly framed with something he didn’t commit and he is sentenced to death penalty, how would you feel? Death sentence has been thrown back and forth with the argument that it is or it is not an acceptable way of punishing. Offenders are doing what they know best, breaking the law, but the government instead of fixing the problem by doing something better, the make it worse by taking another life from society, which can be considered a “crime”. The death penalty is currently being used by thirty-four out of the fifty in the United States. Death penalty often establishes the question, “Does the government have the right to take away someone’s life?”
When people commit crimes, there should be disciplined no matter what. Juveniles need to learn that their behaviors have consequences. Why should kids be given any less of a punishment for committing the same crime? According to one author, “Taking a life is murder regardless of the age of the offender, and the penalties to be imposed must not discriminate. After all, the victim’s life will never be returned, and the family will permanently lose their loved one” (“7 Top Pros and Cons of Juveniles Being Tried As Adults”).
The inability to withstand peer pressure often results in the perpetrator reoffending. For instance, when people who are lacking funds may try to find other sometimes illegal means to get money. Even as an adult the susceptibility to peer pressure exists. According to Dr. Laurence Steinberg, the brain is still developing maturely in the teen years and well into their mid 20s in areas like reasoning and judgment (Patti R., 2015, P 1). This is a huge reason why teens are so susceptible to peer pressure.
The death penalty is currently legal in 31 states in the United States. The fact that capital punishment is not morally required in any case is true. One could argue jail is not moral either and we would have a larger number of criminals who do not fear any type of punishment. Why should mercy be shown to those who commit senseless acts that take another’s life, on of the most sacred things?
Capital Punishment is the punishment by death received for breaking the law. Capital punishment is also known to be called Death penalty. The death penalty will always be around. It is a way that the government keeps people in line, well at least that 's what the government thinks. Capital punishment isn 't something someone thinks about when committing a crime punishable by death when they do it.
Juveniles Justice Juveniles who are criminals being sentenced to life without parole can be shocking to some people. I believe if a juvenile is able to commit a crime, then they are able to do the time. The article “Startling finds on Teenage Brains” talks about how the brain can be different from the time you are teens to the time you are an adult. After, considering both sides on juvenile justice it is clear that juveniles should face life without parole because they did the crime so they can do the time. Also I believe the juvenile’s age should not influence the sentence and the punishment give.
Death row or the death penalty is mainly a union that is divided within the prison system. These Death Row individuals are sentence for a capital crime commission and has written death warrants from state governors. In the United States the number of death sentences has decreased since the year of 1993. Since the death penalty can be a complex topic based on the defendants actions some lawyers don’t have the right experience for those types of cases. There are not enough private lawyers either.
The definition of murder according to law.com is “the killing of a human being by a sane person, with intent, malice aforethought” (Hill 2015). Is the death penalty not, in fact, the killing of a human being by a sane person, with intent, malice aforethought? If one follows that definition then the death penalty is indeed, murder. Our government claims it is not murder through the guise of legal reasoning.