Juveniles Should Be Sentenced To Life In Prison Essay

Crime rates in America are at an all-time high, and there is a significant increase in juvenile crimes. Adam Liptak, Marc Mauer, and Kent Scheidgger all share stories that support the fact juveniles should be able to be sentenced to life in prison. Juvenile offenders should be able to be sentenced to life in prison due to the fact they are committing severe crimes and juveniles are able to tell right from wrong. First, many of the crimes committed by these juveniles are extremely severe. In one case, a 13-year-old “broke into the home of an elderly woman and committed a savage rape” (Scheidgger). The same 13-year-old had already been found guilty of many felonies. With the safety of the public in mind, the judge was forced to sentence him to life. The decision of the judge is morally right, because this child was a danger to everyone around them, and putting them in prison will make sure the streets are a little safer for the innocent. Also, there are over “2,500 juvenile offenders in the United States serving life sentences without the possibility of parole, mostly for murder” (Liptak). By locking these offenders away from the public, we are ensuring a much safer place. The average person does not sleep well at night knowing there is a murder or rapist loose, even if they are still a juvenile. By locking up serious

They are “uniquely capable of change” but some still continue to make decisions that harm others or themselves (Mauer). In fact, many juveniles sentenced to life “had already received a second chance” (Scheigger). These juveniles know the crimes they are committing are severe, but they still make the conscious decision to commit the said crime. It is important when juveniles commit a severe crime that it is recognized that they “[crossed] a line, and they have to be treated as adults, and be punished as adults” (Liptak). These kids know that what they are doing is wrong, and they should be held accountable for