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Pros And Cons Of Proposition 21

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The exact definition of a juvenile is a “young person” who has yet to reach their 18th birthday. The average life expectancy of someone living in the U.S. is about 79 years old. Proposition 21 requires juveniles to be viewed and tried as adults, including receiving adult punishment such as a life sentence. If a juvenile receives a life sentence before they reach adulthood, more than three-fourths of their life is gone (“California Proposition 21”). Juveniles don’t even have a fully developed brain and as a result, can’t fully understand the circumstances that they find themselves in. Courts must not be given the power to try and sentence juveniles as adults because the environment in adult prisons are for adults, not juveniles, therefore, Proposition 21 should be repealed. When a juvenile enters an adult court, they are looked at no longer as an adolescent, but as an adult. However, they are not adults. Juveniles are actually far from it, not just physically, but mentally as well. It is known that the human brain, specifically the prefrontal cortex and the frontal lobe, does not stop developing up until the age of 25 years old. These two parts of the brain are …show more content…

It is almost always evident that when these kids go through adult trials that they have no idea what’s taking place. Most people at these ages can't grasp onto adult responsibilities and legalities or they have't even heard of such things like parliamentary procedure. The director of the MacArthur Division Laurence Steinberg says that juveniles that are being tried as adults are not competent hold their own. “In all likelihood, a large number of juveniles who are being tried as adults are not competent to stand trial,” (Salant 3). On top of that, these kids aren’t allowed to speak to any form of relative during trial. This is just unfair for the accused. Proposition 21 is essentially setting juveniles up for harsh

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367 Words | 2 Pages

This particular article talks about a Connecticut Governor by the name of Dannel P. Malloy wanting to get the state approved to consider treating young offenders as juveniles until they are twenty-one. Mistrett made a comment stating, “Here they go asking for 21. It makes sense, it aligns with what brain science tells us and I think it 's a good path forward” (Mistrett). It seems like she agrees with what Malloy is trying to get across to the state, but young offenders should have that psychological sense to want to stop committing crimes before things get worse. The adult age starts at eighteen and continues on; sometimes, you have to consider a young offender as an adult depending on what crime was committed.

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1483 Words | 6 Pages

Proposition 28 was passed on June 5, 2012 through the California initiative process. Proposition 28 was an initiative to amend the California Constitution. The change to the Constitution aims to reduce the amount of time a legislature can remain in the California legislature, but it would increase the total amount of time that a legislator could spend in one house to twelve years in total and it would only affect an legislators elected after June 5, 2012 (“In Depth” 2). The legislator could choose how the twelve years where spent, whether in just the Assembly, just the Senate, or any combination of the two. The legislators would still be subject to the same terms, but just the limits on them would increase.

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841 Words | 4 Pages

Proposition 54, the Public Display of Legislative Bills Initiative, would 1) prohibit California legislators from passing any bill without posting the bill for the public 72 hours beforehand, 2) require that videos of all the state’s public legislative meetings be posted online for twenty years, and 3) allow anyone to record videos of meetings and use them for “any legitimate purpose.” While proponents argue that this initiative is necessary to increase transparency, you should follow the Democratic Party in opposing it because it would unnecessarily slow down the legislative process, discourage bipartisan compromises, and enable misuse of videos in misleading ads. Furthermore, if Proposition 54 fails, you should offer an alternative piece

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513 Words | 3 Pages

Over the years, the enforcing of gun control laws has become a contentious issue that has gathered diverse opinions on whether or not this is an efficient policy that will decrease gun violence. This is exactly what proposition 63 strives to do, regulate the sales of ammunition and the people that can purchase it and require an extensive background for those who wish to obtain a firearm. The overall goal of this proposition is to attempt to reduce gun brutality in the United States, in order to create a safer community. If proposition 63 passes then the requirements to own a firearm or sale ammunition will become even stricter. However, it is essential to evaluate the economic impact this proposition will bring about.

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941 Words | 4 Pages

Gun control is a necessity for Californian safety and happiness. There should be strong gun control laws which limit the potential of guns to be obtained for nefarious reasons. In order to create a better California, Proposition 63 must pass. However, not everyone agrees with Proposition 63.

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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.

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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.

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539 Words | 3 Pages

Juveniles take up a large percentage of prisons in the U.S. every year with some having long adult sentences. According to njjn.org 250,000 juniors under the age of 18 are charged in an adult court and sentenced to prison with an adult sentence. Many states still allow kids as young as ten to be tried in an adult court with a jury rather than be in a juvenile court without one. Adult prison sentences are too harsh for juveniles. There are many different crimes that can put a junior in an adult court.

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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.

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1392 Words | 6 Pages

When teen felons choose to act without thinking, they are putting other people’s lives at risk. They need to be charged as adults because the victims of the crimes will not be given the justice they deserve when they have to worry about that criminal harming them again. Although some people think that sending a juvenile through adult court gives them no hope, they should have given this a little thought before committing the crime. Teens need to think about the consequences and how their actions affect others before they act. When choosing between putting a violent adolescent in prison and taking the chance of letting them commit that crime again, it is most suitable to let the teen be tried as an adult and to place them in prison.

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964 Words | 4 Pages

In the document “Because The Consequences Aren’t Minor” by the nonprofit Campaign For Youth Justice, it describes that attorneys fue cases in adult criminal court for minors ages 14 or older. In addition they have a judicial waiver which is known as “fitness hearing” to be able to determine if they are fit or unfit and be tried as an adult ( Campaign For Youth Justice 2 & 3). The judge or attorney do not just simply decide if the juvenile should be tried as an adult, there is a process in which they must commence according to the Proposition 21. This also depends on the severity of the crime. According to the Ohio State Bar Association, the be able to required to trialed as adult you must be convicted of a felony and you need to be under the age of 18 (www.ohiobar.org).

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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.

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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.

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964 Words | 4 Pages

Juvenile Justice Should juveniles get treated as adults that’s one of the biggest controversy in our nation now days, with many juveniles committing crimes that are inconceivable according to their age. Judges have the last word on how to treat this young people. Many people argue that “the teens that are under eighteen are only kids, they won’t count them as young adults, not until they commit crimes. And the bigger the crime, the more eager this people are to call them adults” (Lundstrom 87). This is why people can’t come to a decision as how these young people should be treated like.

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760 Words | 4 Pages

Can you imagine waking up behind closed walls and bars? Waking up to see your inmate who is a 45-year-old bank robber and you are a 14-year-old minor who made a big mistake. This is why minors who have committed crimes should not be treated the same as adults. Some reasons are because the consequences given to minors in adult court would impact a minor’s life in a negative way. If a minor is tried through a juvenile court, they have a greater chance of rehabilitation.

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