Juvenile Case Study

The questions for the courts to ponder evolve around the mental state of the juvenile, the potential for physical violence when placed in an adult prison environment, as well as the emotional impact of incarceration with an adult population. Steinberg L, Scott E, 2003).

Although a juvenile has committed an adult crime which is punishable according to state or federal law, and must accept their role in the crime, it is not advantageous that they be sentenced to adult prison. This considers among other factors, safety in relation to mental, physical and emotional differences between a child and adult.

On one side of the issue, public protection is the focus of concern and leniency on juvenile offenders is not debatable. (Steinberg L, Scott

While incarcerated, Hulin was raped and beaten by fellow inmates for over 2 months. His pleas for help ignored, Hulin ultimately committed suicide. (Wood, A. (2012).

Wood advocates that juveniles confined to adult prison are in danger and that they experience “significantly higher rates of physical assault, sexual abuse, and suicide, than their counterparts in juvenile facilities.” (para. 1). Wood’s case study presents facts that substantiate negligence regarding the safety and well-being of youths in prison.

The Hulin case also lends credibility to the argument against minors sentenced to serve time alongside the general inmate population of prison and further explains that these institutions are not equipped with properly trained staff to handle the needs of adolescent inmates, violating the Eighth amendment of the Constitution. (Wood, A.,

(Ochs, S. L., 2012). In certain cases, there was the moral and ethical responsibility of the court to decide whether rehabilitative efforts should be mandated, allowing juvenile murderers the opportunity to be ultimately released back into society, or if sentencing these juvenile murderers to serve a life term in prison as punishment was the better alternative. (Ochs, S. L., 2012).

In the case of Miller vs. Alabama, Evan Miller came from an abusive, dysfunctional home and had attempted suicide 4 times beginning at age 6. At the age of 14, he and a friend went to a neighbor’s trailer to drink and smoke marijuana. Miller robbed the neighbor who was asleep, of $300. The neighbor woke up, grabbed Miller, and Miller beat him, and set the trailer on fire killing the neighbor. Miller was sentenced to life without parole. In his case, Miller argued that the life term was cruel and unusual punishment, and violated his rights according to the Eighth Amendment. (Ochs, S. L., 2012). The state held its ground proceeding with its