Addolfo Davis Case Summary

Addolfo Davis started his career in crime at the early age of 8 years old. At the age of 10, he upgraded to armed robbery. Four years later he committed what the courts deemed as a crime so heinous that he ended up with a life without a chance of parole sentence. Now at 37, Davis is still behind bars but his case can help unlock prison doors for children who are sentenced to life. Growing up in Chicago, Illinois, Davis came from a broken family. His grandmother tried to fill the role of mom since his mother was a drug addict but his grandmother was consumed with work and having the task of taking care of a disabled husband and mentally handicapped son. Davis began to rob people for money in order to survive. He got more attention from those

They are unable to deal with urges to engage in risky behavior due to the hormonal surges of puberty. Due to their inexperience and mistrust in adults they are at a disadvantage in the criminal justice system. Just as U.S. Supreme Court in Miller v. Alabama stated that a child’s brain is not fully developed and they don’t have the capability to consider the penalties of their decisions.

In class we discussed the six primary theories: retribution, deterrence, incapacitation, restorative justice, rehabilitation, and early intervention. Children need to be saved rather than be abandoned to the adult correctional system. Children do not have the ability to make rational decisions especially when they are under duress. In order to help achieve this we must intervene early and rehabilitate. This is why early intervention and juvenile rehabilitation is better for the young offenders. Crimes that are committed by children under the age of 18 are considered as “juvenile crimes”. When it comes to crimes committed by juveniles there are several risk factors. Those living in poverty are exposed to violence and drug abuse early in their life. Coming from broken or unstable families is one of the highest risk factors for young

However, a child who has conduct problems early on does not always mean they will turn into a criminal in the future. Delinquency programs are beneficial to the child socially and personally but also a good financial investment. Taxpayers save money due to the fact that these programs reduce the amount spent on incarcerating.

Rehabilitation is a process in which it attempts to restore a person back into becoming an asset to the community. When it comes to juveniles, rehabilitation is designed purposely for minors who have committed crimes or who may display a future in crime. This type of rehabilitation may involve sending the juvenile to boot camp, after-school programs and incarceration. Besides locking up and disciplining the juvenile, rehabilitation also involves skill-building.

Having juvenile rehabilitation to correct their tendencies is beneficial to the community since they won’t become a threat. For those who are deemed not dangerous should be rehabilitated instead of incapacitated. Instead of being placed in an adult facility, juveniles in detention centers have a better opportunity of getting rehabilitation to prevent future criminal acts. They are also more prone to commit suicide or sexually abused when placed in adult