When Terry talks about how in Illinois lowering the age limit for maximum juvenile imprisonment, it was unclear as to if Illinois lowered the age because of the boys or if it was a recent change. Also, not many sources were used to explain why the boys should be imprisoned. Dr. Perry and Jay Hoffman were sources that had said the boys need to be punished to teach them a better sense of right or wrong, but there was no support as to if that punishment is really the correct solution or as to why should go that route. Jay Hoffman also did not provide a valid reason other than that it’s his “sense of what the public very much wants” for why children who commit an adult crime should simply be punished like an adult. I disagree with the idea of just
For the past years there has been a debate on whether juveniles should be tried as life without parole or life with parole. In my opinion juveniles who commit first or second degree murder should not receive a mandatory sentence to life without parole. Although the juveniles are underage they are well informed of what’s right and what’s wrong, but some of them have difficulty understanding of what they are doing at the moment of the crime because they are angry and act before thinking clearly. I agree with the majority of supreme court justices who believe that mandatory life sentences are unconstitutional, unfair and inhumane because juveniles are immature, their brain is not completely developed, and they are unaware of long term impact
The death penalty and life imprisonment, under certain circumstances, are oftentimes not seen as unconstitutional for adult criminals, according to the Supreme Court. Both consequences do not violate cruel and unusual punishment; however, this constitutional consequence was questioned for juveniles. Juveniles could once be sentenced to life imprisonment
Some people believe that minors shouldn’t get life in prison because they are “just kids”, others believe that minors should get life in prison if needed to. I highly believe and agree with those who believe minors should get life in prison,because if they had the courage to commit a big serious crime then they should also have the courage to accept the consequences given to them. If you really think about it,if one doesn’t give them a serious consequences due to their action they’re going to think that it’s okay,that the court system will take it easy on them because just because they are “just children”, which it shouldn’t be like that. Criminals are criminals whether they are children or adults. Age is just a number but their crime is
Juveniles should be tried as adults with life without parole but only in certain cases: depending on their motive or modus operandi, their crime, and criminal background. Motivation Scandalous kids who commit crimes for unreasonable motives should most definitely have life without the possibility of parole. In some cases, they’re just doing what they think is best. Jacob Ind, a 15 year old from Colorado, was beaten and sexually molested by his step father. His mother abused him as well.
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.
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).
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”).
Many people think kids that commit massive crimes deserve to be put in a adult jail house but don’t realize that they are young immature human beings. There has been many cases of kids being tried as adults and being sentence to life in prison. We can’t continue to put these young kids in adult prison, they should be put in juvenile hails where they belong. Kids are being shown no mercy when it comes to being put in jails. Kids aren’t allowed to do certain things because you need to be an adult, so the same rules should be applied we it comes to give children jail time.
According to the National Juvenile Justice Network, it states, “an estimated 250,000 youth are tried, sentenced, or incarcerated as adults every year across the United States”(njjn.org). I believe children should only get tried as adults, if their crimes involve homicide or seem mentally unstable, because every crime does need a punishment
It is mentioned that the ruling’s lesson for the long run was that “children’s diminished culpability and heightened capacity for change cast doubt on mandatory sentences”. This being said, I went out and found a source, quite similar to you, though who expressed the knowledge that children are different. Justice Elena Kagan (High Court Bars Mandatory Life Terms For Juveniles, 2012) said that thanks to their “immaturity, impetuosity and failure to risk and consequences”, children are different. Children are more capable of reform and of change.
Supreme Court justices want to punish juveniles that commit heinous crimes with mandatory life sentences. Something that plays into all this is the eighth amendment stating that there shall be no cruel or unusual punishments for crimes. This raises the question of whether or not we should allow juveniles to receive life sentences no matter what their crime is but no matter what we think or try kids are still going to commit crimes. However, the judicial system can still treat them like children by keeping the current ruling that does not allow mandatory life sentences for juveniles who commit heinous crimes.
It’s not every day you see young adolescents committing murder and heinous crimes, but unfortunately there are days when a young teen walks in the courtroom with handcuffs ready to hear their trial, punishment and sentencing. It is hard to understand how anyone can have these thoughts about brutal, horrifying crimes, but it’s even harder to understand how anyone can oppose punishment for these criminals just because of their age. “On June 25, 2012, the Supreme Court ruled that juveniles who committed murder could not be sentenced to life in prison because it violated the Eighth Amendment’s ban on cruel and unusual punishment” I would like to give my opinion and say that there is nothing cruel and unusual about giving an underaged “child” a
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.
Juvenile offenders should not be convicted to life sentences because spending life in prison is only doing more harm to the person’s body and brain when they can be helped with rehab and other methods. Firstly, In 2012 multiple Juveniles serving life sentences without parole, were given hope of possibly being released due to the violation of the 8th amendment. This is because the life sentences were seen as cruel punishments towards the convicts. “The court ruled that laws requiring youths convicted of murder to be sentenced to die in prison violate the Eighth Amendment’s ban on cruel and unusual punishment” (Source #3). A lot of people agree with this due to the fact that people’s body’s and brains develop up until 25 years old and can be helped if given the chance.
