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Dec. 19, 2002
Should juveniles be tried as adults?
As a 15-year-old, former freshmen David Dominguez allegedly stabbed two other freshmen, one of them several times in the back. Last month, two Whitman High School students—Andrew Klepper, 15, and Ryan Baird, 14—allegedly beat and sexually assaulted a young woman. John Lee Malvo, 17, admitted to pulling the trigger in at least one of the local sniper shootings, including the one that killed 72-year-old Pascal Charlot.
To allow these violent criminals to be released after spending a few years in juvenile correctional facilities would be a crime in itself, to the victims and to society. The current justice system protects the public and gives young criminals punishments that fit the severity of their crimes.
The maximum punishment that criminals prosecuted as juveniles can receive is time at a juvenile correctional facility until 21, regardless of their age when they committed the crime. For a 17-year-old murderer to serve a maximum four-year sentence would be not only a stinging insult to the victims but also a hazard to society. Under this policy, young killers could be back on the streets at the age of 21, ready to commit more crimes. Harsher and longer sentences are possible only through the adult criminal justice system. Studies have shown that juveniles tried as adults are more likely to serve terms that fit the severity of their crimes.
Harsh punishments also deter other young criminals from committing the same crimes. According to the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, 44 states and Washington, D.C., passed laws between 1992 and 1997 enabling the judiciary to transfer juveniles to the adult court system. Since then, juvenile arrest rates for violent crimes have decreased: In 1999, the percentage of all juveniles arrested for violent crimes fell to an 11-year low. Treating violent juveniles as adults sends a message that age does not excuse them from facing the consequences of their actions.
Some opponents of the current justice system argue that youths tried and sentenced as adults are disproportionately racial minorities. Regardless of whether or not racism exists in the criminal court system, the idea of trying juveniles as adults is not itself racist. Judicial racism and adult sentencing of juveniles should be treated as two separate issues; fixing one does not necessitate reforming the other. No matter what their race, all juveniles should be equally subject to the possibility of facing adult punishments.
Allowing juveniles who commit violent crimes to serve short, lenient sentences in juvenile correctional facilities simply does not do justice to society and to the victims involved. For a young man who repeatedly stabs a fellow classmate, for two minors who premeditate a violent sex assault and robbery, for a 17-year-old serial sniper who shoots innocent people and for other juveniles who commit heinous crimes, a few years at a juvenile correctional facility is an unjust punishment that fails to serve the victims and safeguard society from danger.
To allow these violent criminals to be released after spending a few years in juvenile correctional facilities would be a crime in itself, to the victims and to society. The current justice system protects the public and gives young criminals punishments that fit the severity of their crimes.
The maximum punishment that criminals prosecuted as juveniles can receive is time at a juvenile correctional facility until 21, regardless of their age when they committed the crime. For a 17-year-old murderer to serve a maximum four-year sentence would be not only a stinging insult to the victims but also a hazard to society. Under this policy, young killers could be back on the streets at the age of 21, ready to commit more crimes. Harsher and longer sentences are possible only through the adult criminal justice system. Studies have shown that juveniles tried as adults are more likely to serve terms that fit the severity of their crimes.
Harsh punishments also deter other young criminals from committing the same crimes. According to the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, 44 states and Washington, D.C., passed laws between 1992 and 1997 enabling the judiciary to transfer juveniles to the adult court system. Since then, juvenile arrest rates for violent crimes have decreased: In 1999, the percentage of all juveniles arrested for violent crimes fell to an 11-year low. Treating violent juveniles as adults sends a message that age does not excuse them from facing the consequences of their actions.
Some opponents of the current justice system argue that youths tried and sentenced as adults are disproportionately racial minorities. Regardless of whether or not racism exists in the criminal court system, the idea of trying juveniles as adults is not itself racist. Judicial racism and adult sentencing of juveniles should be treated as two separate issues; fixing one does not necessitate reforming the other. No matter what their race, all juveniles should be equally subject to the possibility of facing adult punishments.
Allowing juveniles who commit violent crimes to serve short, lenient sentences in juvenile correctional facilities simply does not do justice to society and to the victims involved. For a young man who repeatedly stabs a fellow classmate, for two minors who premeditate a violent sex assault and robbery, for a 17-year-old serial sniper who shoots innocent people and for other juveniles who commit heinous crimes, a few years at a juvenile correctional facility is an unjust punishment that fails to serve the victims and safeguard society from danger.
Discuss this Article
Please share your views with me. Feel free to e-mail me at Beabeast555@yahoo.com
thank you,
stacy (soccerbabes1818@msn.com)
I think not!
I couldn't agree more. Juveniles are NOT like mentally challenged people. They know DANG well the difference between right and wrong, and a large part of this is the parents responsibility. Learn how to raise your kids.
"Jessica havrum :: tessie_1202062yahoo.com :: 1/29/2003
Im from missouri and i dont think that juveniles shouldn't be tried as adults because that is just like charging a mentally challenged person and that is wrong, because they dont know what is right or what is wrong."
It seems to me that I know right from wrong, and it seems you do too, because you think it is wrong for kids to be tried as adults.
So, although your point is interesting, it's completely wrong.
Are you a child psychiatrist? If not, what gives you the right to determine a minor's mental capabilities and judgement decisions? If minors had adult culpabilities then there would be no legal drinking age or age to buy alcohol now would there? Society is all messed up. We deem young americans "mature enough" when it satisfies us, but also deny them certain rights because of there maturity. If we can say that a 12 year old is mature enough to be tried as an adult because he or she committed murder then that 12 year old should be able to have a shot of vodka or a cigarette to relieve the stress that would cause them to committ such a violent crime. Be for real.
Jennifer Rose Hillman.
The article also incorrectly states that all juvenile offenders are off the hook at age 21. Not true, juvenile offenders, in many states, may remain in custodial control or probation until age 23 or 25. Next time, do your homework. For everyone else, if you are interested on the effect of automatic adult sentences for juveniles, take a look at the study conducted by the state of Florida - it may change your mind.
Juvenile is at an all time high, the rate of juveniles committing murder has risen more than 167.9% since 1984. The job of the juvenile system is not to make hardened crimals such as the adult prison system, instead it is meant to rehibilitate juveniles for the return to society. Also, juveniles are only allowed to stay in Juvenile Correction centers until the age of 21, then they may be moved to adult prisons, so no not all are realeased as you make it sound, many do serve life sentances in adult prisons, and many have received the death penalty.
Chris Giese (age 16)
i mean what would you do if a juvenile kills one of your family member what would you do?
think about it
who cares if theyre under 18 they did it so they shuld do the time
There are a number of areas in which the juvenile system could be revamped to serve and settle this problem. how about lengthier sentences for juveniles? even into their adult lives. How about a review of sentence at the time they become an adult? No one exects the criminal justice system to release hardened criminals unto the streets of our nation, oh but they already do that (do to the state of Florida getting rid of there parole system they are having to release criminals early to make room for new offenders). So if anybody in the criminal justice rates and deserves a break, don't you think it should be our youth.
My point is simple, I not a softy on crime, but lets be fair about it. Juveniles belong in the juvenile system.
1. The offense the juvenile is being charged with is a serious offense such as murder, rape, robbery, or arson, or the juvenile has before been convicted of a felony;
2. The juvenile is at least 13 years old;
3. The court shows the juvenile has the mental capacity to fully understand the nature and consequence of the offense committed.
I think if this guideline was followed it would serve the best ends of justice for society and the juvenile, but I also think that NO person under the age of 16 years, should ever be given any punishment greater then 10 years to life imprisoned.
~Kelly~
Anon.
stop the hatred and start the love....
dude kids don't need killed..
they need some tlc.....
or some psycho help with doctors......
kids r the future of tomorrow..
luv ya
barb
get the death penality as a punishiment.there
just kids.and people may do bad things but it
doesn't mean they have to be killed.but if
they killed someone then i guess they should get the death penality as a punishiment.but if parents don't wont there kids to get the
death penality then they should teach there
kids right from wrong,and killing someone or
doing any serious crime is very wrong.
the 16 year old who killed my son -enjoyed
doing it -the witness's tell me he smiled and laughed while he was shooting my only child with his9mm.i think if you are old enough to kill someone - you are old enough to die
i˜´
Ø,e that there is both good and bad about trying juveniles as adults. some teens are old enough to know what they were doing. on the other hand, other teens or younger children may not have known what they were doing. i think it depends on what the crime was, the age of the juvenile, and the history of the juvenile, as to whether or not the child should be tried as an adult.
Sometime a good year or two in a federal prison is all some children need.
But for others that plan to kill they need a while longer.
i don't think they should, cuz juvenile hall
gives better rehab and jail freakin' doesn't. yeah, some peeps do bad stuff, but peeps deserve a better chance. buh bye
my 6 yr. old little sister knows the difference between right and wrong.......if she does then teens should!!!!!!!!!!!!!
teens should know right from wrong but being an adolesent is a really tough time for a lot of people. BLAME THE PARENTS. its the parents that should be charged for not taking care of their kids. teens now a days have to cope with a lot ( espcially in the states) and its not always easy to get along and make the right decisions. I was charged with assult with a weapon at age 13. i was put on probation for 15 months with 10 conditions including a curfew and drug and alchol prohibitation as well as 75 hours community work service. I am now 15 and off probation but i had learned my lesson long before my punishment was served. ALL YOU ADULTS WHO THINK THAT TEENS SHOULD BE TRIED AS ADULTS NEED TO LOOK AT YOUR PERFECT SELVES!!!!!!!!! i mean what i did wasn't as serious as killing someone ( which deserves a serious punishment) butteens MATURE into adults. Stop pushing them awway and give them the help they need to change instead of throwing them in jail wear they become worse and worse people that hate themselves.!!!!
so if teens commit the same crimes then they should have the same punishments. I don't care how old you are if you commit a crime you put others in danger and you should be tried just like any adult. Teens should be tried just as adults!!
So they would be on the streets again after that and next time(which im sure there will be) it could be worse!!!
(Thank you.)
That must be pretty bad.
Juveniles think differently then adults.
They should be sent to a juvenile court. When you are a adult, you should get tried as a adult, when you are a kid, you should get tried as a kid.
Many people think, "When you kill someone, you should be killed." I think no. The USA is one of the very few countrys in the world that kills people. So far 6 states have executed children. Thats 6 too many.
What goes on inside a kids mind when they kill someone. Probably confusion, they don't know what their doing when they kill someone, its right after that, then they start thinking.
Now I think that they should spend as many years in rehabilitation as they need, becuase if you kill someone you must have some kind of confushion. Some of you out there who have kids. If some other kids killed your kid you would want that kid to be executed. But, if your kid killed another kids you would want your kid to stay alive and go into rehabilitation. So i think, either way, that kids should go into rehabilitation.
I don't think adults should be executed either.
Im just one of the millions out there who think kids should not be executed.
Maybe thats becuase im a kid, but thats my opinion.
n-e-waz if your fine and i'm ever single i'll halla
~*ASHLEY*~
ALL MEN ARE CREATED EQUAL
Teens go to juveniles corrections for a few years and that's not fear when they have kill innocent people.... NOt fear...
dumping some 15 year old teen in an adult
prison would NOT prevent the problem of criminals either.
if a boy is convited of murder and he is only 17, and the judge tries him as an adult. and the boy went up to the judge and asked him if he could get married. and the judge sayed no. the boy then sues the court saying that it cannot pick and choose what he is judged an adult in. should he be able to get married becaues he is tried as an adult?
would this be a violation of the boys 14th amendment?
and how?
please send me some info or some web sites with infomation.
THANKS
I got something to ask ya'll:
Your son is being teased and hurt on a daily basis. It's been going on for a year and you tell your son to stay strong and do not let the people know they're hurting him, because thats all they want. Your son is really fed up and trying to stay strong is becoming too much. He decides he's gonna put an end to it himself and takes a gun to school......5 people end up dead and he's He's up for life in prison.....
What are you saying now?
just put your self in the victims families shoes...if someone shot your brother or sister or mother or father..would u take it lightly that the criminal only got 4yrs in a hall while your loved one lays in a coffin or an ern for eternity?
what kind of example is this setting except "its ok to kill someone if your under 18..but then after that you just cant get caught cause you'll do the time you deserve" it doesnt make sense. if this doesnt change people 18 and older or just going to accept younger people in their gangs so they can make them do the crimes cuz they'll get out in a couple years anyways like nothing happened. its like a free killing card, its like if you want to kill somone make sure you're at most 17! our system is corrupt if we let murderes and rapists out on the streets just because they werent the legal age to try.
they are children not adult but if they mean it then it's a different story but proven until genlty!
- Sasha H
It also costs more to sentence a person to death than it is for them to have to serve life sentence in jail.
Have fun deciding
If a teen is tried as an adult, they are 60% more likely to die before age 25 (from death sentence, suicide, or prison violence). If they do actually live through their jail sentence, the person is twice as likely to commit another crime, than if they came out of a juvenile facility.
So, if they are charged as an adult...they're basically dead.
who got into trouble with the police not the other boys thou
elementry and wher taught right from wrong. Also the took an adult action
thanks for your time ~Elexis
Peace out!
If these teens are old enough to do the crime or think their old enough... than let them be treated like one!!! Also if they take a life of another person...then their life should be taken from them! Not saying they should all die, it depends on the crime, but they should get their regular life taken{ prison} Its better to get them off the street before another little boys mom, a mans wife or great school teacher dies!!!! Said by a murdereds mother.
I agree with you!
anyway, in some cases, juveniles deserve to be tried as an adult. in other cases, DA or CA (district, or commonwelth attourneys) will try to give juveniles with non-violent crimes, such as breaking and entering and grand larceny, adult sentances, this is a case where juveniles need not to be tried as adults.
On the topic of one mistake costing their whole life... what's the one mistake... ending someone else's. We're supposed to be empathetic for them? Sure...
thanks
peace
please email me back with your comments i am doing a debate for school and i need some arguements or agreements. thanx
do not fear! bob is here!
ohh and teaser ure a liar
does anyone remember that?
im not saying that all punishments are fair. Some go way too far, but what about the ones that don't go far enough?
and no i dont think kids should be tried as adults
Dejan, Aged 13 Belgrade, Serbia
However, if they seem apologetic, a long prison sentence would be more appropriate.
For those that seem unaffected by their crime, and repeat offenders, DEATH. God have mercy upon these teens....because I won't.
I agree with you whole heartedly with your perspective on this issue. I was doing a paper on this very same issue when I came across this website. I was very impressed with the way you stated your facts, and it is nice to see someone who thinks very conservatively in their approach. I find it both revolting and ridiculous that this increasingly liberal society is willing to be more lenient of juveniles for the mere reason that they are not adults, and therefore can not be tried as adults because they are children and don't know any better. Anyone who commits a serious adult crime, whether child or adult, should be treated with the same equality that th law should impose. It is not right for us to make exceptions to children because they aren't adults. You make a valid point in stating that juveniles can be tried in juvenile courts instead of adult courts, and the max sentence they can recieve is staying in a juvenile facility until they are twenty one, does that remotely sound like a punishment fit for a crime committed. Everyone, no matter who they are, should be treated under the same scrutiny of the law that everyone else who commits a serious crime is treated by. Thanks for posting this article, it is nice to see a like minded individual.
they are both in juvie right now and are being charged
one is being charged with burglary, grand theft auto and animal cruelty
the other is just being charged with burglary and accessory...
they say that they were not aware of the crimes they were commiting due to the fact that they were on drugs at the time
but they were aware cuz they both talked to me about it consiously
one is being let out this week, but the other is in there for quite a while
although he is my best friend i believe that he should be tried as an adult because he commited crimes that he was able to understand were against the law