ipl-logo

The Importance Of Sentencing Children To Life In Prisons

766 Words4 Pages

The Eighth Amendment states that punishments should be fair and cannot be cruel. In the summer of 2012, Supreme Court ruled that juveniles who have committed murder cannot be sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole because of violation of the Eighth Amendment. However, young adults or juveniles should be given life without parole when committing a serious crime. If teens can commit crimes knowing there will be consequences then they should be prepared to face them. Many juveniles will fight against receiving jail time by saying, they are depressed, or have not reached a full level of maturation. Others, will play the victim by arguing that they felt their life was in danger and committed the crime out of self defense. Juveniles also argue, that they are unaware of the consequences of their actions. Whatever the reasons for a juvenile committing a heinous crime, they are still responsible. Age and immaturity should not be reason why a juvenile should not be sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. I believe that juveniles should be held responsible for their action and thus, be sentenced to life in prison. …show more content…

In the article, “Why Are We Sentencing Children To Life In Prison Without Parole?”, Vincent M. Southerland and Jody Kent Lavy write “Even though they have mental disorders teens/juveniles should still pay the same consequences” (Southerland). Juveniles committing adult crimes must be given adult consequences. Their mental disabilities are no excuse for taking someone's life or commuting any other heinous crimes. If they have serious mental disorders they should not be let alone at any time because of the danger they may cause to society. Also, if depression is a serious issue in a juvenile’s life they should seek help rather than taking someone’s

Show More
Related
912 Words | 4 Pages

“Thump! The jury finds you guilty! Three life sentences without parole!” the young boys and girls that hear this sentence generally aren’t considered the best of kids, however locking away a juvenile for life takes much more thought than it takes to address this sentence to a legal adult. In “Locked Away Forever” by Patricia Smith the question is attempted to be answered, which is should juveniles receive life sentences without chance of parole?

Read More
1657 Words | 7 Pages

If juveniles have a mental disability they should not be sentenced to life in prison without parole, especially when it is a non homicidal crime. When children experience neglect and abuse it can take them down a dark path, which often leads to jail. Joe Sullivan's case is an example of this. As a child, Joe suffered from childhood abuse, which included both physical and sexual assault. This abuse took a toll on his mental state and led him to be easily manipulated by older kids.

Read More
1065 Words | 5 Pages

The answer is yes, for the following reasons: murder,multiple time offender, and rape. Murder Murder is one of the biggest reasons why adults serve life sentences. So why not juveniles? There are many reasons why a juvenile commits murder: Mentally unstable, have been repeatedly molested/abused by a parent figure,and does not know how to handle society.

Read More
1050 Words | 5 Pages

A kid is a kid until the age of eighteen, then in the eyes of the law they are legally an adult. So why do the court systems trial a juvenile as an adult at the age of thirteen or fourteen? Mistakes are made and when the courts put kids behind bars for a life sentence and are not giving them the chance to change. To these juveniles, being sentenced to life is a slap in the face says to them that they will never have the chance of fixing or learning from that mistake that they have made. That they have to face a life sentence and have that burden on them forever.

Read More
741 Words | 3 Pages

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.

Read More
842 Words | 4 Pages

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.

Read More
767 Words | 4 Pages

In the article “Remember the Victims of Juvenile Offenders” Jennifer Bishop-Jenkins explains how the killer of her 26 year-old pregnant sister got away not only with that crime but others as well (Bishop-Jenkins 1). Bishop-Jenkins agrees how some teens need long term evaluation before they are able to rejoin the public, as a result should be tried as adults. If these criminals are shown there are no serious consequences for crimes then they will continue their antics. Teens should be tried as adults for felonies if they are unfit for juvenile detention centers for which they can not rehabilitate. Not only will it put criminals behind bars but will allow the victims to experience some

Read More
582 Words | 3 Pages

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).

Read More
1315 Words | 6 Pages

The Supreme Court of the United States of America in 2012 ruled that juveniles couldn’t be tried as juveniles and be sentenced to life without the possibility of bail, no matter how harsh the nature of the crime committed. Justice Elena Kagan argues that juveniles who commit crimes typically have a rough upbringing or unfortunate circumstances which cannot be controlled by the juvenile. She argues that if they are serving a life in prison without a chance of parole, it causes damage to them psychologically due to the lack of experiences. They will miss the most important moments in life that define who they are as an individual.

Read More
515 Words | 3 Pages

Juvenile Justice Essay In the United States, there have been many cases where a juvenile would be found guilty and be tried as an adult. There are other cases where those juveniles are tried as adult forever. I am against charging juveniles as adults when they commit violent crimes, the juveniles lose many educational opportunities and the adult system is far too dangerous for the young juveniles. Juveniles are also young kids but only the fact that they do not get the same amount of education or experience that other teens gain.

Read More
1392 Words | 6 Pages

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”).

Read More
636 Words | 3 Pages

Juveniles in prison face increased violence and sexual abuse, and are at much higher risks of committing suicide than juveniles in juvenile prisons. In addition, the number of released prisoners that turn back to crime is much higher for those that were juveniles in adult prisons. Juveniles will face the consequences of their actions in juvenile prisons, but will also be given a second chance to change their lives through rehabilitation. It is time to stop failing this nation’s juveniles and build a system that benefits not only these children, but society as a whole through the end of a vicious criminal

Read More
431 Words | 2 Pages

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.

Read More
1291 Words | 6 Pages

In our society, crimes are being committed not only by adults but by juveniles as well. By law as soon as a person turns 18 they are considered to be an adult. So what if an adult and a juvenile were to commit the same crime yet were sentenced differently simply based on the fact that one is a child and one is an adult? Juveniles are committing violent crimes just as adults and should be given the equal treatment and sentencing as adults receive. Juveniles aren’t completely ignorant as everyone seems to think.

Read More
729 Words | 3 Pages

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.

Read More

More about The Importance Of Sentencing Children To Life In Prisons

Related Topics

Open Document