More handpicked essays just for you.
Juvenile justice issues
Juvenile justice system then and now essay
Juvenile justice system then and now essay
Don’t take our word for it - see why 10 million students trust us with their essay needs.
Recommended: Juvenile justice issues
Roper V Simmons involved a juvenile (Christopher Simmons) who committed murder and got the death penalty. Christopher Simmons had the desire to commit murder and thought since he was a minor he would get away with the crime. On September 8th , Christopher Simmons, Charles Benjamin, and John Tessmer met at 2 am and planned to rob and murder a victim, their victim ended up being Shirley Cook. The three found Mrs. Cook in her bedroom, they then proceeded to tie her up and cover her mouth with duct tape , after they drove her to the Meramec River and dropped her off the bridge leaving her to drown. Tessmer fled the scene and ended up testifying against Simmons.
Roper Vs. Simmons Christopher Simmons committed a capital murder in September of 1993. Simmons was only 17 at the time. Simmons had an accomplice, his friend Charles Benjamin who was only 15 years old.
During the fall of 1993, Shirley Crook’s, a loving mother and wife, life was horribly cut short in one of the most horrific ways possible, drowning. Seventeen year old, Christopher Simmons, wrapped his victim in duct tape and electrical cords and drowned her in a river with help from his accomplices John Tessmer and Christopher Benjamin. He attempted to burglarize the Crooks residence along with his accomplices, and he only murdered Mrs. Crooks because ‘the bitch seen my face’ (State v. Simmons). He “assured his friends that their status as juveniles would allow them to ‘get away with it.’... Brian Moomey, a 29-year-old convicted felon who allowed neighborhood teens to "hang out" at his home.
In the case Roper v. Simmons three friends Christopher Simmons 17, Charles Benjamin 15, and John Tessmer 16 decided to rob Shirley Crook 46 on September 9, 1993. As the time came, two of the three decided to go through with the robbery but John Tessmer decided that this was not for him and backed out. After that moment Christopher Simmons and Charles Benjamin went through with the crime. Then at 2 am the two boys Christopher Simmons and Charles Benjamin met up to commit the crime. They then went into the home Shirley Crook was currently residing in.
The issue involved in the U.S. Supreme Court case of Roper v. Simmons (2005) affects the Eighth and 14th Amendments to the United States Constitution (Roper v. Simmons, 2015). The visited factors included whether it is permissible under both Amendments to execute an individual for the commission of a capital offense committed while the offender was under the age of 18 (Roper v. Simmons, 2015). In Roper v. Simmons (2005), 17-year-old, Christopher Simmons, committed capital murder and after he turned 18, he was sentenced to death. Case Facts: At the young age of 17 years, Christopher Simmons planned and later committed a capital murder (Roper v. Simmons, 2015).
Christopher Simmons was a seventeen year old juvenile from Missouri whom in 1993 along with two of his friends, Charles Benjamin and John Tessmer, planned to rob and murder Shirley Crook in her home (Roper v. Simmons, 2004). On the night the crime was to be committed, Tessmer pulled out of the plan, and Simmons and Benjamin would continue on as planned. The two broke into the Ms. Crook’s home, robbed her, tied her up, covered up her eyes, then drove her to a state park and threw her off a bridge. During the trial, evidence, videotaped reenactment and testimony outlining the premeditated plan, allowed for the jury to easily convict Simmons of the crime. Even though Simmons had no previous criminal record and was a minor at the time the crime was committed,
Virginia, 2002)case was argued in the Supreme Court in 2004 because is a case in which the Supreme Court of the United States 6-3-that executing people with intellectual disabilities violates the 8th Amendment that ban cruel and unusual punishments, but states can define who has intellectual disability (mental retarded).According to the court report, Christopher Simmons committed this crime at age seventeen. The eighth amendment’s state protects people with disabilities, therefore Christopher Simmons Case was reopened and the death penalty was taken off the table but given life in prison for the murder he committed. (Atkins v. Virginia, 2002) In my opinion, I clearly respect the court’s ruling, a person or person’s being young does not think about what he or she does before doing it. I am not asking to give juveniles a pat on the back for the heinous crimes they commit but consider their environment, cultural background, mental status, religion, poverty and etc.
Roper v. Simmons is considered a landmark case and is one of a handful that shows a new direction in granting some relief from what has been established as harsh “adult” punishments for juveniles (Elrod & Ryder, 2014). In fact, many studies are showing that the differences between adults and juveniles are quite significant (Elrod & Ryder, 2014). The courts are realizing that these differences must be taking into account when dealing with juveniles in the criminal justice system (Elrod & Ryder, 2014). However, that being said, change does not occur overnight, and for the unforeseeable future, juveniles will still continue to be waived into adult courts (Elrod & Ryder, 2014).
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
Crimes are happening around us whether we pay attention to them or not. Those crimes as dangerous as murder are committed by all ages but should younger criminal in their juvenile age received the same punishment as older criminals. On June 25, 2012, the Supreme Court ruled that juveniles committed murder could not be sentenced to life in prison because it violates the Eighth Amendment.(On-Demand Writing Assignment Juvenile Justice) Advocates on the concurring side believes that mandatory life in prison is wrong and should be abolish. However, the dissenting side believe that keeping the there should be a life in prison punishment for juvenile who commit heinous crime regardless of their age.
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”).
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 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.
