Juvenile in the Adult Prison

Should Juveniles Be Tried as Adults?, edited by Judy Layzell, Greenhaven Press, 2005. At Issue. Opposing Viewpoints in Context, login.portal.oaklandcc.edu/login?url=http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/EJ3010327223/OVIC?u=lom_oakcc&xid=d0d34da8. Accessed 6 Mar. 2017. Originally published as "The Rest of Their Lives: Life Without Parole for Child Offenders in the United States, Chapter V: The Difference Between Youth and Adults," 2005.

There are times juveniles should not be convicted as adults because sometimes the “crimes” may not harsh enough to be charged as an adult. For example, if a 8 year old saw a gun in their mother's purse and thought it was a toy and grabbed it and began to shoot who would be at fault ? Plus children in adult prisons are 10 times more likely to be taken advantage of in their time. Research shows that children prosecuted in the adult criminal justice system are more likely to reoffend than those held in the juvenile justice

Studies suggest that there is a divide between the government and public response to juvenile incarceration. Bullis & Yovas (2005) state that support is given to correctional facilities to house juvenile offenders as a form of punishment (as cited in Shannon, 2013, p. 17). Individuals who support this perspective are often more likely to support the construction of more prisons and stern penalties on crime based upon the presumptions that youthful offenders are aware of the consequences of their actions (Drakeford, 2002 as cited in Shannon, 2013, p. 17). On the other hand, opponents of this perspective believe that incarceration creates an opportunity to rehabilitate the offenders (Huffine, 2006 as cited in Shannon, 2013, p. 18). This perspective supports the purpose of juvenile detention centers as “preparatory in nature – that is, offering services focused on the development of skills needed to return successfully to mainstream

According to the U.S. Department of Justice, 10,000 juveniles are confined in adult prisons and jails rather than in juvenile facilities that were built for them. Josh Rovner reports in his article “Juvenile Life Without Parole: An Overview” that 2,100 child offenders are serving life in prison without the possibility of parole before the age of 18. In 26 states, a life without parole sentence is mandatory for first degree murder – regardless of age. Juveniles housed in adult prisons face a disturbing number of dangers such as physical as well as sexual abuse, assault, and high rates of suicide. While juveniles should be held accountable for their actions, they should not be prosecuted as adults because they are incapable of exercising the same judgement and maturity as an adult, housing them in adult facilities leaves them vulnerable to their surroundings, limits their educational growth and giving out a harsh sentence will not rehabilitate them nor deter other juvenile crime.

Helping adolescents will circumvent the astronomical amount of money made by prison systems. Change is enviable, but many people want to keep things the same. Jails are making money because inmates work for pennies on the dollar. Most prisons support and employ the whole town or city. Lawmakers and prison owners want to continue to reap the revenue benefits. Progressive laws make better living conditions. Challenges from prison owners and lawmakers will make it harder to protect adolescents from being charged like

For years may people have debated whether or not juveniles should be tried as adults for serious crimes. The juvenile justice system was established in the year 1899(Long). Laws were first created to handle small cases such as truancy, shoplifting, and vandalism (Estudillo). Since 1993, at least 43 states have passed laws making it easier for children to be tried as adults (Estudillo). Juveniles should be tried as adults because by the time they’re about 12 they know that murder is wrong, if they’re grown up enough to kill someone then they’re old enough for adult consequences, and a lot of kids see the juvenile justice system as a way to get away with crime.

There are more than two thousand cases of teens where they are sent to prison for life without parole after murdering other people. Most cases were of juveniles killing their parents or guardians after their knowledge of abuse. Juveniles that get sent to either juvenile hall or to be tried as adults do not receive fair defense teams, have prosecutors that are very manipulative, and experience physical and emotional trauma, which affects them for a very long time. Juveniles that get punished and sentenced do not have a very good source of rehabilitation or a place of rest after their crime. They are sent to trial within six days of their crime, out of shock and previous physical and mental trauma. Considering the potential dangers of juveniles

Since the late 1980s, the U.S government begun imposing sentences to children without trial in the adults' jails. The practice was effective because it helped to reduce the rate of delinquency. In the early 2000s, the rate of homicides among the children aged 13-14 reduced. Nonetheless, though this law served to reduce the level of delinquency in the nation, it led to the intimidation of the adults. Sentencing the children in a similar prison with the adult is a form of disrespect to them. These individuals require privacy from the children. Hence, the government needs to establish different prisons for children and adults. In addition, sentencing juveniles in the adult’s prisons without parole is an injustice because children have reduced cognitive development (Thompson 1). Notably, cognitive development determines individual thinking capacity. Individuals with improved cognitive development, mostly adults, have the ability to make critical decisions in life. For example, concerning the committing of crimes, they have the capability of doing what is right. Hence, it is hard for them to be influenced by peer pressure. However, juveniles, most of them have reduced mental growth. They suffer from peer pressure. Hence, their tendency of committing crimes is high. Therefore, instead of sentencing them in the adult prisons without parole, the U.S government need to establish more rehabilitation centers for the

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

Many young adolescents who have committed horrendous crimes have been a huge topic amongst the Supreme Court. Whether young adolescents are viewed as innocent, naive children to the public, this not changed the fact they can commit brutal crimes. In spite of the fact that adolescents have committed brutal crimes such as murder, one needs to understand that their brains are not as fully developed as an adult brain would be. Adolescents should not be trialed to a life sentence or attend adult prisons; however, they should be punished for their actions and undergo rehabilitation programs to help them be prepared to fit in with the rest of society.

For example Joe Sullivan was 13 years old when he and several other juveniles burglarized an elderly woman’s house in Pensacola and went back after the burglary and sexually attacked her so savagely. After committing this crime Sullivan was the first juvenile in 1989 in the United States to be sentenced to life without parole. Another example of case that the juvenile should have been sent to adult prison for a crime that was committed was 14 year old offender named Ashley Jones who was trying to run away with her older boyfriend who then shot and killed her grandfather and aunt. When Ashley realized her aunt was still breathing, she hit her in the head with a heater, stabbed her in the chest and attempted to set the room on fire. As Ashley ten year old sister attempted to run away Ashley grabbed her and began to hit her as Ashley’s boyfriend put the gun to her sister’s face and told her she was going to die. Ashley intervened and said “No, let me do it” and then proceeded to stab her little sister fourteen times. Ashley jones wasn’t sentenced to life without parole after killing three lives. Another example of a juvenile that committed an adult like

Juveniles are not allowed to drink, drive, or get married, and are not capable of making mature responsible decisions, but can be on the verge of an adult sentencing. Juveniles’ tried as adults has been a major topic in the Criminal Justice system for many years. The controversy primarily focuses on the brain development, safety, and rehabilitation of the juvenile; versus an adult punishment towards them. These opinions have continuously produced outburst in the Criminal Justice system. Some argue juveniles should suffer the same consequences as an adult, if an adult crime was committed. Others reason juveniles as not mature enough to be kept in the same facility as adult offenders. Juveniles do not deserve to be tried as adults because

One would think that juvenile offenders are different from adult prisoners, but most are not. There are however, some unique issues that juvenile offenders face within the criminal justice system. One issue is juveniles and the death penalty. Some states allow the death penalty for juveniles, but in 2005 the Supreme Court deemed this practice unconstitutional. Significant questions were raised concerning the development of juvenile’s human brain and the maturity level of juveniles and capital punishment. The Supreme Court stated in a five-to-four decision that juveniles younger than 18 at the time of their offense could not be executed. The justices also stated that executing juveniles was a violation of the cruel and unusual clause of the

Today in society juvenile justice has become a huge topic. We live in a world where teens are getting the same punishment as adults when they commit a crime. There is a big argument on whether or not adolescents should receive such strict punishments since they are not adults. Children as young as ten years old are being tried as an adult, and getting their whole childhood taken away from them. These children are left hopeless, abandoned, and lonely. Not only are these children striped of there childhood, but they are never going to get a chance to live a normal life again. Stricter punishment is not the answer for juvenile crimes because it gives juveniles a lack of hope, it puts them in danger of the other criminals, and they are too immature to see they mistakes that they have made.