The article “On Punishment and Teen Killers” written by Jennifer Jenkins is an article with very weak ethos. The author argues that teens who commit heinous crimes should receive life without the possibility of parole and that the victims rights should be considered. The author is a victim of a crime committed by a teen, her pregnant sister was brutally murdered by a teen gunman who wanted to “see what it felt like to shoot someone” (2). By bringing her sister into the paper the author lowers her credibility because she is emotionally connected to the case and has an obvious biased opinion. This leads to the readers to question her reliability on an unbiased opinion in the article.
Jenkins concludes her article by comparing the way our nation punishes teen killers and how other nations punish
In the article “ On punishment and teen killers” by Jennifer Jenkins argues that 1,300 cases nationally of a teen killer sentenced as an adult to life, sometimes called JLWOP. Jenkins supports her argument by first explain the cases for example, when a teenager murdered her and her husband in 1990 in Chicago. When i read this paragraph i was sad because why would you want to kill your own husband like what is the reason why she did that. I think it was because the husband did something bad like cheating on his wife or because she went crazy like her mind was telling her to kill him. This is another example a high school teacher said that it's hard to think that a young teen could do a bad crime and without parole.
Some might agree that, “The juvenile justice system is failing to protect citizens from the surge in violent crimes committed by juveniles. What is needed is a system that protects society from violent juvenile offenders, and efficiently rehabilitates juveniles." (G Garcett) The threat of this harsher punishment will result in lowered juvenile crime rates. Juveniles should be convicted as adults for violent crimes because it is not fair for juveniles to commit big crimes and get away with it so easily.
An indication that disproves the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision centers on the idea that one’s age should not be used as an excuse to minimize their punishment. In her essay “On Punishment and Teen Killers”, Jennifer Jenkins supports this by arguing that a juvenile should not use their age as an excuse to get out of trouble with the law. After mentioning the horrific case of a teenager who killed a pregnant woman for satisfaction, it is revealed that the murderer was charged with three life sentences. Despite the murderer’s wicked actions, some people still believed that the murderer did not deserve life sentences just because the killer was not considered a legal adult. To support her argument that age isn’t enough of an excuse, Jenkins writes “There are advocates who wish to minimize
Have you ever thought if a young teen going to adult prison for committing a crime, like murder or homicidal thoughts. The Supreme Court ruled that juveniles who committed murder could not be sentenced to life in prison because it violates the Eighth Amendment’s. On the other, hand four justices strongly disagreed, arguing that mandatory sentences reflected the will of American society. Two years ago I saw on t.v how young and wicked these young kids are in a documentary. A teenager probably the age of 14 killed a girl the same age with a shovel, banging her on the head repeatedly out in their garden.
When a young person kills, does the child immediately turn to an adult? Or do they uphold some the trappings of childhood, despite the seriousness of their actions? These are among the primary questions plaguing the American legal system in the modern days, as the violent acts of juvenile delinquents continue to be subject of the press. In regards to similarity between the juvenile justice system and the adult criminal justice system, I believe the juvenile system should mirror off the adult system. The fundamental question when it comes to deciding which way to go is; are minors in a position to understand the ramifications of their actions?
An adolescent is not allowed to drink, smoke, get married, or sign legal contracts because they aren’t capable of making mature decisions. In many poor communities, the only things adolescents see are crimes. Teenagers are like a sponge they absorb everything they see. Throughout many years, kids have committed crimes that have gotten them unreasonable sentences. From looking at many sources I found that teenagers don’t think of the consequences their actions might have on them.
In the article “On Punishment and Teen Killers” published by the Juvenile Justice Information Exchange on Aug 2,2011 the author, Jennifer Jenkins, points out how teen killers should be tried as adults for crimes committed at an adult level. Jenkins states that “... I understand how hard it is to accept the reality that a 16 or 17 year old is capable of forming such requisite criminal intent.” If a the teen intended to kill someone then they should be locked up, but if that was not the intention then they should get the help necessary instead of being locked
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).
If the youth has committed a crime that an adult would serve more than two years for in prison, the youth would be charged as an adult. In this school shooting case this teen will face consequences for his actions, the act can do as much as placing a publication ban. When youth face consequences it helps to decrease youth crime rates because youth know the act can only do so much to protect them, which may scare the youth into not committing an offence. In conclusion, the Youth Criminal Justice Act contributes to the declining number of juvenile crimes because the youth is subject to
In the juvenile justice system juveniles, should be convicted as adults for major crimes caused by adolescents. in the terms of the different crimes there is a different punishment but not for murder is seams that some get one harsh punishment than the other. There are two ways to go as if you look at the pros and cons on a good route or a bad route, as the good one leads you to good things in life and the other bad things happen, therefore going to the good route is the best way to go but this not the case with our juveniles. They may start good but something may happen during that route that they get side tracked and start doing crimes. Juveniles already know what is right and wrong.
There has been a really big controversy on whether teens who have committed crimes, such as murderer, should be convicted and sentenced as an adult. Studies have shown that an estimate of 200,000 children in America are charged and put into prison and prosecuted as adults. People believe that except for extraordinary circumstances should children younger than 17 should be put into adult prisons for a great period of time. Teenagers are being tried as adults and sentenced to prison at alarming rates in the United States. These “children” are below the age of 17 meaning they are committing these crimes without actually meaning to cause as much damage like taking someone’s life therefore, I strongly believe that children and teenagers under the
Juveniles should be convicted as adults for violent crimes because it is not fair for juveniles to commit big crimes and get away with it so easily. If they want to act like adults, they should be treated. Some teens commit crimes and don't have a really good excuse on why they do it. In the article “On Punishment and Teen Killers” by Jennifer Jenkins she explains how the teenager that killed her sister, husband and her unborn child excuse of killing them was that he just wanted to “see what it would feel like to shoot someone”, which is no good excuse for what he did to this family. Another example from Jennifer's Jenkins article she states how “undeveloped brain” has nothing to do with teens committing these crimes.
In the words of teenhelp.com, “One in ten teens arrested has been engaging in a violent activity that could have resulted in the serious injury or the death of another person, In 2000, nine percent of the murders in the United States were committed by persons under the age of 18” . Teens become violent for number of reasons. With a Criminal Record. The graph displays the variety of crimes that teens also known as juveniles have convicted . What are juveniles you ask ?
