aryn Coles
Mrs. Tolkan
ERWC, P. 1
20 December, 2017
Should Juveniles be Tried and Sentenced as Adults? Teens deserve to be tried as adults if they are going to commit violent crimes. There are around 1,300 cases of teens murdering the United States. JLWOP means juvenile life without parole, a sentence many of these teens serve. Teens should be tried as adults because although they are young, their crimes are still gruesome; they know what they are doing is wrong, and their brains are not an excuse for their behavior. Although these kids are young, they are still murderers and still criminals. An example of this, Lionel Tate, he was “...twelve when he savagely beat to death a six-year-old girl” (Lundstrom 87). He was sentenced to life in prison after this crime, which was blamed on pro wrestling. What about Thomas A. Preciado, who “...was fourteen when he stabbed to death a minimart clerk” (Lundstrom 87)? He was also tried as an adult after committing this unnecessary crime. These crimes are gruesome and the kids are old enough to know better. These kids committing these crimes are toon old not to know better and too old to hide behind excuses. Nathaniel Brazill was thirteen when he “...shot to death an English teacher, who would not let him say goodbye to two girls...” (Lundstrom 87). At the age of thirteen, should not kids know that this is not an appropriate reaction to an argument with a teacher. Jennifer Jenkins pregnant sister by a teen in chicago, who’s
It is shocking how young children can decide they want to kill their teacher or mother. For example, Nathaniel Brazill, a fourteen year old child killed his English teacher in two thousand. If this child would have known that if he might be put away for a lengthy period, he might have thought twice before acting on his thoughts. Yes, he may need rehabilitation, but it is still the fact that if the issue is not dealt with he may still feel as though killing anyone is okay. In the magazine article, “Should the Law Treat Kids and Adults Differently?” states, “Wednesday, fourteen year old Nathaniel Brazill was found guilty of second-degree murder for killing his English teacher last year” (Reaves, 2001). At only fourteen this child took someone’s life; the teacher could have been someone’s mother, daughter and etcetera. A life cannot be replaced so by making an example of one child, other children can learn about the consequences of their actions. In the magazine article, it states, “When a child kills, does he instantly become an adult? Or does he maintain some trappings of childhood…” (Reaves, 2001). When a child chooses to kill they are deciding that they do not need a childhood. They may still be a child but by performing the act of killing, try are opening the door for people to view them as an adult. Children should not have the mindset to kill
The one thing that those people won’t understand is that minors don’t know the typed of crime they had committed until they received adult consequences for their adult decisions they make. “In the Los Angeles two teenage sisters allegedly killed an elderly neighbor while another sister allegedly played a stereo to drown out the screams. They have denied all charges” demonstrates how even though they were committing adult crime they didn’t get adult consequence for what they had done. At that moment they probably didn’t realize the decision they were making but by getting adult consequences they would learn from there
Other people argue that Juveniles may not have the mental capacity to know that this is wrong. This is, in fact, wrong in most cases. A child no matter what the age should know that killing or performing other atrocious acts on others is wrong.There are some exceptions such as mental illness and adverse effects from medications. According to https://flowpsychology.com/10-pros-and-cons-of-juveniles-being-tried-as-adults/, “because teenagers have full control over their thoughts and actions. If they do not have the moral compass instilled in them by that time, then they are very likely to commit more crimes.” This implies that, should teenagers not be tried as adults, they may never learn their lesson.Even if they don’t from harsher punishments; at least they will
Between the years 1988 and 1992 the amount of crimes that have been committed and went from 18 to 68 percent in the United States. Also, between the years 1983 to 1993 the amount of youths under eighteen years old arrested for murder and weapons violations has doubled in the United States. In the article, it states, “ Most experts blame the increase on two things: guns and drugs. Guns are now readily available, and kids involved in selling drugs are much more likely to use guns than they were ten years ago, say police” ( John, 1). This quote is important because the easier it is to get guns and drugs, the easier it will be for people for under the age of eighteen to commit a serious crime. Also, it states in the article that kids are committing crimes and not caring as much because they know that they are under the age of eighteen and they know that they will not get as in much trouble as they would if they were tried as adults. But, if they were tried as adults the crime rate of kids under the age of eighteen would decrease in a huge way. That is another reason why juveniles should be tried as
These crimes are considered unethical resulting in fatal outcomes. Additionally, people tend to have compassion for juveniles when faced with criminal charges on account of age. Habitually children commit crimes since they believe their consequences are irrelevantly minor. This belief causes adolescence to continue their offences without thought of any consequences. In Baltimore police commissioner” Kevin Davis’ recent complaint that 90 percent of minors accused of serious crimes see their cases moved from adult court to the juvenile system” (Baltimore Sun 2017). Additionally, Davis believes juveniles accused of fatal crimes should become tried as adults which includes life without poral. Furthermore, the actions caused by juveniles may shape there lives
In today's society, there are many crimes going on. Adults are not the only ones that commit crimes. One issue today is that juvenile offenses and whether juvenile offenders should be tried as adults in criminal court. A common phrase that is often used in this case of young juveniles committing crimes is "Old enough to do the crime, old enough to do the time." This phrase should be cleared to people that juveniles are not adults, and with this being said it will not make them one. "It has redefined juvenile offenses by treating most of them as delinquent acts to be adjudicated within a separate juvenile justice system that is theoretically designed to recognize the special needs and immature status of young people and emphasize rehabilitation over punishment" (Steinberg). While juveniles should be responsible for their actions, and should be held accountable for the crime, then the juvenile justice system is design to determine the consequences. Youths are still minors and are less mature. They often face a lot of negative peer pressure. Therefore, juveniles should not be tried in courts as adults.
Court systems are left with difficult decisions. A controversial decision courts are faced with today is whether or not juveniles are to be tried as adults. The increasing number of incarcerated children in adult jails raises questions as to why. Adolescents sentenced to prison are more likely to be abused, commit suicide, or reoffend, thus committing more serious offenses. The statutes requiring juveniles to enter adult prisons are inhumane and in-just. Nevertheless, sentencing children to adult prisons continues regularly today. When adolescents commit crimes, they should be tried as juveniles rather than adults.
Over the last few decades there have been more and more violent crimes committed by children and young adults. Some of these children are under the age of 15, committing violent crimes such as robbery, rape, murder, gang violence. Some of these children are being tried as adults while others are tried and punished as juveniles. A juvenile offender may receive a slap on the wrist being sentenced to house arrest or parole while others are being sent to adult prisons without the possibility of parole. An adult committing these same crimes would receive a more sever sentenced.
Many adults come up with many reasons why youth involve themselves with acts of violence, there is never an actual answer to why they committed the crime, but the question of why they are being tried as an adult. Vicious misconduct is well-defined by the Division of Juvenile Justice as “murder, rape, severe attacks, and theft. These are all actions that sound terrible and cause for harsh consequences. Unluckily, there is an increasing development of adolescent violence; even “kids” under the age of sixteen are engaging in these vicious acts. When a child comes of age, they advance to being able to enjoy but not abuse adult liberties. Adolescents attain a
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.
I believe that juveniles do deserve to be tried as adults and not be given the leeway of being called just a “teenager”. As a young adult i just turned 18 not too long ago and i can tell you from my own experience and the experience of my close friends that teenagers or anyone from the age of 12-18 does know right from wrong and fully acts upon their own decision and conscious. It would be very disrespectful to anger the victims on letting out the killer. I know that if my family member was murdered by a teenager and 10 years later they let them out, i would be beyond angered with their decision to even give them a second chance.
18 Nov. 2015. This article speaks on why most juveniles should be tried as adults. Showing that when teens commit murder they receive less of a sentence than if an adult were to commit the same murder as the teen, the adult would most likely get a more time than a teen. The article show that New York has reduced their age to try juveniles as adults from the 16 to 13 years old.
As more minors are committing violent crimes, the question of whether they should be tried as adults has arisen. Children as young as 13 or 14 are committing violent crimes such as murder, rape, and armed robbery. Some of these children are being tried as adults while others are being tried as juveniles and receiving milder punishments. A juvenile offender may receive a few years in a juvenile detention facility and possibly probation following his release at age eighteen. An adult committing the same violent crime will receive a much harsher penalty, often years in jail, possibly a life sentence, with little or no chance of parole. The only difference between the two offenders is the age at which they committed the crime. Juveniles over
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.
Furthermore, teens always find a way to get away with certain problems, even if they are small they still try avoid the consequences. In other words they are trying to get the easy way of their problems. But this may not be the best choice because they can be making matters worse. Besides, teens who commit crimes should be tries as adults, the reason being that if they do not get punished then