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Exploring the relationship between mental health and crime
Exploring the relationship between mental health and crime
Juvenile offenders in the justice system
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Juvenile offenders should not be tried as adults because there are differences between a teenager and adult. A teenager is not mature as an adult. Some teenagers are capable to change their behavior and are capable to recognize their own mistakes. It is a huge mistake for juveniles offenders to be tried as adults and send them to adult court and prison . There are many factors why they should not be tried as adult. One reason why juvenile offenders should not be tried as adult is because they are far from adulthood. Many teenager who have committed a crime has a different background. For example, they have suffered sex abused, their parents have been drug addicted , or have been in prison for many years. There are many factors …show more content…
A minority of them can feel regret and will change with help and rehabilitation. While they are paying their sentences in a Juvenile hall some of the offenders could want to change and be better person. In Gail Garinger’s article “ Juveniles Don't Deserve Life Sentence” (Garinger 93) she stated that “ As a former juvenile court judge I have seen firsthand the enormous capacity of children to change and turn themselves. The same malleability that makes them vulnerable to peer pressure also makes them promising candidates for rehabilitation” This means that they can be influenced by friends, family or someone just as they choose the wrong path so they can choose the same right again. For example Marquese from the documentary ‘ Juvenile Justice’ He has been on probation and spent time in juvenile hall, at the juvenile camp, and at the California Youth Authority. He was recently most charged with auto theft and residential burglary. He testified that he began doing bad things when he was at a young age. Now he says that he wants to changed and that he knew what he did was wrong. This truly prove that juvenile offender can be easily influenced Marquese’s mother testified that she was the one who taught Marquese to steal at an early age. Now his mother is being rehabilitated and also Marquese. These
There is a great deal of controversy over the trying and sentencing of juvenile offenders today. Many will argue that because the severity of Juvenile crimes has risen, the severity of its consequences should rise; however, no matter how serious the crime is, juvenile offenders tried as adults receive far worse than they deserve. The majority of Juveniles tried as adults are hardly given any form of human rights. Adult jails are not the environment children should have to experience, especially those sentenced for misdemeanors and nonviolent crimes. There are other solutions to reducing juvenile crime. It does not take adult court to straighten out kids on the wrong path. Most children are not even able to recognize that what they had done is wrong. There may be no perfect solution to reducing juvenile crime, but there are ways far more effective than adult trying and sentencing.
There are times where a juvenile may be eligible for transfer to adult criminal court. There are certain criteria that must be met for this to happen, and there is a strong belief that juveniles who commit serious offenses would be more appropriately dealt with by criminal (or adult) courts (Elrod & Ryder, 2011). Juveniles are capable of committing the same serious offenses that adults do. Therefore, with the requirements of a transfer being met, there are times that juveniles should be placed in the adult criminal court system and tried through here, rather than the juvenile court system. The juvenile court system may not have the same consequences or sentencing guidelines as the adult criminal court; therefore, the proper punishment may not be served if a juvenile is not transferred to the adult criminal court system.
Many people assume that teenagers should not be sentenced as adults, because their brain is not fully developed. On the other hand, people believe if teenagers commit crimes then they need to have consequences for their actions. According to the Campaign for Youth Justices, about 250,000 teenagers are tried, sentenced, or incarcerated as adults every year in the United States (Campaign for Youth Justices 3). Therefore, charging teenagers as adults is fair, because they are human beings just like adults.
When comparing adults and juveniles in the terms of justice, I think we all can agree that adults should face greater punishments than a juvenile offender since the adult tends to have more common sense, and it’s not fair for a minor to face the same consequences as an adult. While this may be a preferred viewpoint, there are many factors to consider when viewing cases such as the severity of the crime, the situation the law breaker was in at the time of the crime, and most importantly the age of the criminal. When analyzing a juvenile offender, you must also take into consideration, that they are a minor, and don’t have as much understanding of the law as an adult may have. With these concepts in mind law enforcement is forced to analyze juvenile crimes more intensely to ensure that they are protected under the law, even though they’ve broken the law.
Juvenile do not deserve life in prison, they will not be able to handle it. I agree with the group of judges who believe juveniles to not deserve life sentences. They have a great chance at rehabilitation. It only takes something or someone to help them stay out of troubl
There has always been controversies as to whether juvenile criminals should be tried as adults or not. Over the years more and more teenagers have been involved in committing crimes. In some cases the juries have been too rough on the teens. Trying teens as adults can have a both positive and negative views. For example, teens that are detained can provide information about other crimes, can have an impact in social conditions, and serve as experience; however, it can be negative because teens are still not mature enough for that experience, they are exposed to adult criminals; and they will lose out on getting an education.
Their brains develop in different stages and they learn skills that they need to learn at certain time. In the article “Juveniles Don’t Deserve Life Sentences”, by Garinger, she argues that juveniles should not be treated as adults if they commit horrible crimes. Garinger states that juveniles should not be sentenced to life in prison without parole. She states that the court is considering life in prison without parole for juveniles who commit capital crimes. Garinger says that juveniles are immature, and still developing, so they can not be held to the same standards as adults. The writer add that as a juvenile court judge, she has seen how that juveniles can change and may become rehabilitated. For example, the court has already struck down death penalty and the life in prison without parole for juveniles or for young offenders convicted of non-homicide. According to the article, “Juveniles Don’t Deserve Life In Prison,” Paul Garinger states that “Brain imaging studies reveal that the regions of the adolescent brain are responsible for controlling thoughts, actions, and emotions are not fully developed. They can not be held to the same standards when they commit terrible crimes.” If this is true, there is no a reason to treat juveniles as
Throughout a human’s more vulnerable years, they are more susceptible to engage in irrational activities. Their actions are influenced by their family, the people they interact with, and the environment in which they live. On October 13,1994 5-year-old Eric Morse was dropped 14 stories by a ten-year-old named Johnny and by an eleven-year-old named Tyrone. They were tried as adults and sentenced to 10 years in prison. Some people may agree that they should tried as adults, but they deserve to be tried as juveniles because they possess no knowledge of the judicial process.
Juveniles deserve to be tried the same as adults when they commit certain crimes. The justice systems of America are becoming completely unjust and easy to break through. Juvenile courts haven’t always been known to the everyday person.
Is it fair to give juveniles life sentences? On June 25 2012, the Supreme Court ruled that juveniles who committed murder could not be sentenced to life in prison because it violates the Eighth Amendment’s ban on cruel and unusual punishment. Justice Elena Kagan, writing for the majority, stated that “Mandatory life without parole for a juvenile precludes consideration of his chronological age and its hallmark features- among them, immaturity, impetuosity, and failure to appreciate the risks and consequences. It prevents taking into account the family and home environment that surrounds him and from which he cannot usually extricate himself no matter how brutal or dysfunctional.” Juveniles should not be sentenced to life in prison or adult jail until legal age. Due to the facts that many are still young and aren’t over eighteen.
In conclusion, blameworthy teenagers should be fully responsible of their actions and be tried as adults. This will serve our country and others for the better and avoid future acts of crime from these delinquents. There have been various occasions in which young adolescents commit adult crimes and have been let off, it is time that they begin being tried as adults and given the requisite sentences. No teen should be let off to have another chance at committing another crime.
"Don't do the crime, if you can't do the time." -- David Grusin and Morgan Ames
If minors are not liable for their crimes like adults are and youths can be reformed, (Kingsbury, 2009) why should they be sentenced in adult courts under the age of eighteen? Children under the age of eighteen should not be punished in adult court because moving them from juvenile court to be tried in adult court does not reduce reoffending matter of fact it increases offenses. A juvenile detention center has the necessary programs set in place to reform the juvenile. Our children are built to be rehabilitated and to be redeemed. If children are not sentenced to be punished in adult prisons and treated within the facilities of their own age, mentality and crimes even if they are violent they can be transformed into responsible adults.
Kids are kids because biologically they are unable to reason and act like adults. They still play with toys and watch cartoons and play video games. In the eyes of the law a person is considered a minor until the age of 18. According to Cornell University Law School, “juvenile justice is the area of criminal law applicable to persons not old enough to be held responsible for criminal acts.” The question of whether or not minors should be tried as adults has been a debate for many and has brought forth another question, are court laws being fair to juveniles?
People support sending juveniles to adult prisons for many reasons. One reason is that it is the job of the courts to help protect society. Once a troubled juvenile is sent to an adult prison, they are out of the way of society. Hopefully when they re-enter, the punishments they received will be imprinted in their brain and stop them from performing any wrong again. Another reason people think that disturbed youth cannot be saved is that punishment will not save them from themselves and they just need to be locked up forever. It is thought to be true that juveniles who are sent to jail will not commit the same crime again or even any crimes at all. All the reasons and opinions that say that juveniles should be sent to adult prisons for their heinous crimes seem logical. Despite this, they are not. There are more rational reasons why adolescents should be sent to their own private penitentiary.