Juvenile Justice System Case Study

Research has been done into brain development. It has been proven that the human brain is not fully formed until the age of 25. With that being said, New York and North Carolina are the only states that process individuals as young as 16 in the adult criminal justice system. New York specifically continues to be the only state other than North Carolina that prosecutes all youth as adults when they turn 16 years of age. Yearly, over a thousand cases are decided of juvenile’s aged 16-17 who is trialed as adults. The majority of those cases are sentenced to adult facilities. It also happens that most are African American or Hispanic.

In March 2014, Marquis Dixon 17, from Albany New York arranged a meeting through Facebook to buy the sneakers. Marquis Dixon met with the other 17 year old at a McDonald’s parking lot. At around 9:30 p.m., he showed up to the parking lot with what looked like a handgun. Dixon then fled the parking with the sneakers. The other teen was unharmed. Soon after, Dixon was arrested and charged as an adult with first-degree robbery. In November a jury of adults found Dixon guilty of

first-degree robbery. He was sentenced to nine years in jail. The maximum time for his crime was 25 years. Dixon has to receive five years of post-release supervision.

While what Dixon did was ridiculous and malicious I do believe he should have been punished.

But, in no way does he deserve to get 9 years in prison for stealing a pair of $200 shoes. For his age and for this crime, juvenile detention and community service would have been a start. Now if this was not Dixon’s first time reprimanded then the punishment sounds reasonable to teach him a lesson. For example, Ethan Couch a teen who was driving while intoxicated, caused a crash, killing four people and injuring two. Couch only received rehab and probation. In Dixon’s case, he was sentenced to jail and no one was even harmed physically. Granted Dixon had no reason to be in possession of a gun, justice seems too un-reasonable. Considering our justice system lets people get away with murder, then it contradicts it self and punishes someone who committed a less severe

crime.

I also believe it is important to note that there's no evidence that Dixon had a weapon. No gun was found, only the stolen sneakers. The weapon charge was based on the victim’s testimony. The victim said Dixon lifted up his shirt to show what looked like a gun. There was no video evidence or physical evidence to support that claim, only word of the victim. His mother stated to news reporters, “yes my son committed a crime, but not with a gun…why can’t I tell the judge he did not have a gun.” Dixon is charged based on word of mouth, which just doesn’t seem fair.

Dixon is now currently serving his time in jail, while others are protesting in New York for justice. At his age I do believe Dixon is responsible, he diligently plotted and thought out the crime he committed. Dixon had numerous times to stop himself but he chose not to. He is very culpable for his actions made. That ties back into why researchers say the brain is not fully developed. Dixon’s profit outweighed his consequences. The consequences were miniscule in compares to the prize. Researchers say, “teen’s behaviors are often impulsive and lack the ability to focus on the consequences of their behavior.”
After reading over this case, it is clearer that our juvenile system is flawed. We do not offer equal judgment. The juvenile system is not up to date with research given on adolescent brains and culpability.