The Supreme Court makes hard decisions when it involves juveniles. But they also cannot sentence any juvenile to prison without parole for life. In the video “Young Kids Hard Times,” they sentenced a 12 year old boy Paul for 25 years for being an accomplice in the killing of Colt Lundy's stepfather. I do not believe that it was right to take away twenty-five years of Paul's life. Sometime the courts make too rash of a decision and other times the punishment isn’t enough. When people in general commit crimes they need to pay time, but they also need treatment for why they did what they did. The court system doesn’t always sentence juveniles to the correct punishment they need. Lionel Tate is the youngest American to get sentenced to prison for life without the possibility of parole. He was convicted of first-degree murder in 2001, he was only 13 at the time of the incident. He had supposedly been play wrestling with Tiffany Eunick, a six year old girl, and had her in a chokehold and hit her head on a table. Although it was true, they were wrestling there were other injuries to Eunick such as her liver was lacerated, fractured skull, fractured ribs and a swollen brain. They said the injuries were similar to ones of falling off a three story building. Broward County Circuit Court said “The acts of Lionel Tate were not the playful acts of a child[...] The acts of Lionel Tate were cold, callous and indescribably cruel. In 2004 the state appealed court overturned his conviction
On June 25, 2012, the Supreme Court ruled that juveniles should not be sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole because it is against the English Amendment’s ban on unusual punishment. Justice Elena Kagan noted in the way that juveniles should be sentenced to life in prison. But four justices, including justice Alito disagreed with Kagan, and argued that juveniles must be gotten a chance to release to society. So, I agree with justice Alito because I think juveniles do not have fully-thought to do something, they cannot be the same as adults. They will become better, to make decisions and think through their actions when they get older. Therefore, we should give them a chance so, they can prove themselves that they can
On January 26, 2001, 13-year-old Lionel Tate was convicted in the first-degree murder of Tiffany Eunick. The incident occurred in July of 1999 in Pembroke Park, Florida. Tate, then twelve, claimed he was imitating pro wrestlers when he killed six-year-old Eunick. He claimed to have picked the girl up and accidentally thrown her into a stair handrail and wall while trying to throw her onto a sofa. Experts all agreed that Eunick was beaten for a period of time. The autopsy report showed that the girl suffered a fractured skull, lacerated liver, broken rib, internal hemorrhaging, and cuts and bruises. One expert said her injuries were comparable to falling from a
Similarly, the prosecution and conviction of a twelve-year-old Lionel Tate without parole can demonstrate exactly how unfair states can treat these juveniles. Lionel Tate is also the youngest person in the United States history to be sentenced to life in prison. Lionel Tate was convicted of first-degree murder for battering a six-year-old in 1999. Tate was only given two options for his actions; which were life imprisonment without parole or the death penalty. Tate was too young to be put to death and too young to be placed into life imprisonment. Tate's case resulted in him being placed to life imprisonment without parole nonetheless. The State failed to form Tates capacity for criminal intentions but it was not needed to prove whether Tate had the malice to kill. The court also lacked jurisdiction to prohibit the State from prosecuting Tate as he could not be held responsible for the felony. Not to mention that Tate's rights to due process were violated as he was sentenced as an adult to life imprisonment without parole for murder when it did not contain evidence of intentional harm. Furthermore, the counsel argued that Tate was incompetent
As the crime rate in America increases, so does the chance of children being charged as adults in criminal court. Currently our nation is fighting a war against crime and unfortunately some of the offenders are children, children who are not of legal age to drive, vote, or join the military. In a country that legally defines being an adult as being 18 years-old, how is it possible that a 15 year-old boy can be charged in criminal court as an adult and be sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole? In the documentary 15 to Life: Kenneth’s Story by Nadine Pequeneza, a 15 year-old boy named Kenneth Young who was charged as an adult for armed robbery and sentenced
Everyone, especially in matters of serious crimes, should get the Justice they deserve. In a juvenile court, the sentences will be less stringent because of someone's age. An example is given on the website https://flowpsychology.com/10-pros-and-cons-of-juveniles-being-tried-as-adults/, “In 2006 a 12-year-old girl killed her entire family for not approving of her boyfriend. She was only given 10 years.” Juvenile courts are not allowed to deliver the death penalty. In a situation where the death penalty would
On May 9th, 2001 Lionel Tate, at the age of fourteen was sentenced to life in prison from a Florida judge. He was charged with the beating that resulted in death of a six-year-old neighbor girl, Tiffany Eunick (Where It All Began: 14-year-old Gets Life 1). Lionel claimed he was performing professional wrestling moves on Tiffany when she stopped breathing (Where It All Began: 14-year-old Gets Life 2). Lionel, along with many others, do not dispute the fact that his actions were the cause of Tiffany's death. The disagreement arises when one looks at the sentence Lionel was given. Did Lionel realize that his actions would result in the death of Tiffany Eunick? Should Lionel or any other juvenile be held responsible in the same manner as an
In August of 2004, Robert Acuna was sentenced to the death penalty. His crime? Shooting his two elderly neighbors, James and Joyce Carroll, "execution style" and then proceeding to steal their car (Liptak). This heinous crime only adds to the current debate: should juveniles be sentenced as adults? The answer is yes, there should be no leniency displayed towards minors who commit the same serious crimes as adults. Although young, juveniles should be capable of understanding the serious extent of the crime they commit. Sentencing juveniles as adults will prevent perpetrators of major crimes, such as mass murder, from walking free. Furthermore, judges have enough experience to know whether to try a minor as an adult or not. Juvenile sentencing as adults is not a wrong but rather a form of justice in the face of rising teen violence.
On June25, 2012 the Supreme Court ruled that juveniles who committee murder could not be stentced to life in prison because it violates the eighth amendment. I understand that it violates the eighth amendment, but if we don’t stop these kids doing this kind of crime then we are letting them know that it is okay for them to do it at a young age when it’s not. Then we ask ourselves what we could’ve done when we lose a love in the violate choice that they chose. I would disagree with the Supreme Court in this case because we have to let them learn their lesson, they need to start to take responsibility, and because it has nothing to with the mentally.
The United States Supreme Court also showed more interest in the restriction of these policies. There were many against these policies because it was not right for a juvenile under the age of 18 to receive life and have no chance of rehabilitation and the ability to prove their worthiness with re-entry into society (Parker, 2015). Miller V. Alabama, it was determined by the United States Supreme Court that mandatory life without parole for juveniles actually violates a person’s constitutional 8th amendment (Parker, 2015).
Teens should be spent to adult jail for the crime they committed! In the late 1980s juveniles have been committing crimes during the period of this time, many of them were getting in trouble more often, crimes were getting more violent by this time. On June 25, 2012 The Supreme Court justices who agrued to abolish mandatory sentences to life in prison for juveniles who commit murder or any crimes reflecting the will of Americans society should be punished as an adult . Justice Alito noted that , “Even a 17 ½ -year-old who set off a bomb in a crowded mall or guns down a dozen students and teacher is ‘child’ and must be given a chance to persuade a judge to permit his release into society…” In other words I agree that teens should be sentenced to life in prison, if I did the same crime I should be punished the same way as an adult who has committed the same crime because during this age I know what I am doing wrong and right. I believe that teen should be sentenced to life in prison because the victim's family reactions, rehabilitation, they should understand the consequences of their actions, mental health issues, and heinous crimes.
In 2003, Terrance Jamar Graham participated in a robbery of a restaurant at the age of 16. On probation for the robbery, Graham pleads guilty in adult court to another robbery and was sentenced to life without parole (Graham v. Florida, 2009). In 1999, at age 13, Lionel Tate beat a 6-year-old girl to death trying to imitate professional wrestling. Tate was tried as an adult and sentenced to life without parole (Tate v. Florida, 1999). In 2000, at age 13, Nathaniel Brazil fatally shot his middle school teacher claiming the gun went off accidentally. Brazil was tried as an adult and sentenced to life without parole (Brazil v. Colorado, 2000). In 1899, U.S. society continually struggled with rehabilitation versus juvenile accountability. It was
Erik Jensen and Nathan Ybanez were both sentenced to life in prison without parole after being charged with felony murder in regards to the death of Nathan’s mother, Julie Ybanez. However, many people believe this sentencing to be too harsh due to the ages of the boys (who were 16 and 17). Many people also believe that Erik Jensen shouldn’t have been given life without parole even if he was an adult because it was never proven that he was involved with the murder, only tampering with evidence, as he helped Ybanez clean up the crime scene and remove Julie Ybanez’s body. Others believe Erik played an equal part of the murder, because he never attempted to intervene, his fingerprints were on the murder weapon, and his knees were covered in Mrs. Ybanez’s blood.
The criminal justice system can sometimes seem unfair because of the way juveniles are being sentenced. In many cases the question is whether or not to send a child to prison for the rest of his life for commiting a crime.The sentencing of a minor to life in prison is detrimental to society because it's like taking away two lives instead of one. One being the life of the victim and the other being the young criminal who may have been too young to know what he was actually doing. Kenneth Young is an example of how cruel the justice system can be to juveniles because at only 15 years old he was sentenced to life in prison for armed robbery.
Imagine sitting in a courtroom, hoping the the judge will not give a harsh sentence. Unfortunately, that’s the case for many juveniles, some as young as 13! A juvenile is subject to a more severe sentence with the limited sentencing available. It is estimated that 250,000 youth are prosecuted as adults, each year. This number should change, as juveniles are not adults, both mentally and physically. Juveniles need an environment surrounded with guiding adults, education and the resources to help them. A juvenile is not an adult, and should not be tried as one.
Regardless of age, a killer is a killer. A killer can be the daily customer you have at your job or the child you’re babysitting. “The Supreme Court justices would be wise as well as compassionate to strike a balance: Make juvenile offenders responsible for their actions but don't completely rob them of hope. And this should apply not only to the inmates who were 14 at the time of their crimes but to the remaining 2,497 who were 15 to 18 years old,” (Ellison 19). Kids make mistakes all the time, that doesn’t mean we should take their life away from them. With overlooking the listed factors in court when sentencing a juvenile, this will improve the number of children in prisons. Not all of these children partake in the act because of evil, but merely because of