Juvenile Life Sentence Essay

Improved Essays
When asking myself when a juvenile should receive a life sentence, there are many follow up questions that come to mind. What is a juvenile? A juvenile is anyone who has not yet reached the age of eighteen, a young person. The subject of disciplining juveniles is a hard one for many people to agree on. When discussing young people, the reactions are split; some people think that young people under eighteen basically have no responsibility for what they do because they don’t know right and wrong yet. Others think that after a certain age it is nearly impossible to deny any sort of responsibility, as for they are entirely aware of their actions after they have reached a certain level of maturity. At what age does a child become aware and responsible for their actions? I would have to say this happens around the age of twelve. I say twelve because I think preteens begin to show a sense of responsibility and a general understanding of good and bad. I think that once a person reaches their teenage years they should be held accountable for the things they do. There also comes a point when parenting can no longer be used as a legitimate excuse as for why a juvenile would commit a crime, but when? I think that all goes back to …show more content…
How bad does the crime have to be before it becomes life sentence worthy? I think that the juvenile would have to commit a violent crime that was constructed and carried out by themselves or with an accomplice. I think that in order for a life sentence to be a justifiable punishment, there would have to be some sort of proof that the juvenile knew exactly what they were doing. There would also have to be proof that they knew exactly what would happen, and still knowingly and willingly committed the crime. Depending on how heinous the crime was the kid may never be fit to walk around free

Related Documents

  • Improved Essays

    Children committing heinous crimes are not a rare occurrence anymore; the upsetting reality requires new tactics for dealing with young juveniles. Some Americans believe children should be tried as adults, yet others feel that they are too young to understand their wrong doings. In most conditions minors are quickly told they are too young or too old for something, however before being sent to an adult facility we need to contemplate all aspects of the case in order to decided whether or not being tried as an adult is necessary. Regardless of the crime, some people feel that an adult facility is not a suitable environment for children to serve their sentences.…

    • 1083 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    If a juvenile committed a crime do you think they should spent their childhood and adulthood in prison for life?The Supreme court ruled that juveniles who commit crimes should not be sentenced to life in prison because it violates the 8th amendment. However some judges strongly disagree that juveniles who commit heinous crimes should always be punished with a sentence of life in prison. From my point of view juveniles who commit crimes should be accountable for their crimes but they shouldn’t get life in prison. Firstly, I disagree because most juveniles are at a young age and their brain is not fully developed.…

    • 905 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Juvenile crime has took a big toll on the U.S. as it took a rise dramatically. Many of these juveniles are serving life sentences for petty crimes. These juveniles are just childish, young, and way too immature to know right from wrong. What is worse is that most of the juveniles are getting tried as adults at such a young age and can lead to ruining their lives. Although these individuals are criminals and should face the consequences they committed, trying these teens as adults can be a cruel punishment.…

    • 544 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Adults have had parents and they have had time to learn. Therefore kids have not realized what they have done is wrong and should be committed by anyone, including themselves. They need to learn and understand this when they turn about sixteen, or hopefully younger. When they get sixteen they are too old to be acting out like that. I also think that they don’t need to when they are younger than sixteen because they are just learning about life.…

    • 546 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Superior Essays

    Adam Liptak’s article, Locked Away Forever? The Supreme Court Is Considering Whether Life Imprisonment For Teens Offenders Constitutes ‘Cruel and Unusual’ Punishment, asserts that in most cases, “juveniles cross the line, and they have to be treated as adults and punished as adults” (Liptak 14). Age does not determine maturity, nor does it determine responsibility. There is no telling whether someone means it or not when they do something they are not supposed to do. When a child commits murder or rape, people say it is no big deal because they are just kids and were not thinking straight.…

    • 2180 Words
    • 9 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Improved Essays

    When it comes to the criminal justice system, there are many varying elements that contribute to the process through which accused offenders are counseled. As is expected, there are also numerous moral and ethical disputes that come with the territory, such as whether or not children, or 'juveniles', should be tried as adults in court for the violent crimes they commit. Some may say any child over the age of five should know the difference between right and wrong; for an individual to plan out a crime and act on it, the punishment should fit the offense, no matter the age. However, there is a thin line between vice and neurosis when it comes to juveniles. The incarceration of individuals under the age of sixteen at adult correctional facilities…

    • 953 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    A juvenile is a young person who are below the age of 18 accused. Based on some cases, they should also be considered as an adult. In June 25, 2012; the Supreme Court has made a ruling that juveniles who commit murder cannot be given life in prison. Four justices strongly disagree with this ruling, saying how juveniles should always be punished for their crimes from how heinous they are. In my opinion, I believe that juveniles should not receive life in prison under certain circumstances.…

    • 1660 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Children are usually seen as innocent, as they play around with others and are just balls of energy. Often seen as simply kids who have no experience in the outside world until they grow older. However, sometimes a child’s play can go wrong and can affect another’s life. When these incidents happen where a death is involved, it’s often easy for society to look at the offender as a murder who should be in prison for the rest of their life despite what age the offender may be. While juveniles committing heinous crimes should be punished, they should also be given the chance to rejoin society at an appropriate age; therefore juveniles who redeem themselves should be able to get released earlier and be able to put their life together.…

    • 1190 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Research has shown that children in the adult criminal justice system are 34% more likely to be arrested again than those convicted of similar offenses in juvenile court. They are also 36…

    • 1006 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    There have been many opinions on juveniles being convicted as adults on the crimes they have committed. When it comes to some of these harsh crimes, who could not punish the individual to the fullest? It does not matter how old a person is because everyone knows the difference between right and wrong. If someone is raised differently and believes it is okay to murder another human, than they cannot just change their mindset. An individual that makes and adult decision should have the same consequences.…

    • 1231 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    There are so many things that must be looked at when deciding to prosecute someone under the age of 18 into the adult criminal system. As mentioned in the beginning, not ALL juveniles should be considered for an adult sentence. However, in some cases the crime committed by the juvenile might merit adult sentencing. A deep and thorough investigation of past criminal records, mental health, nature of the crime, and maturity should be implemented. Trying juveniles and sentencing them to 1o years in prison for a petty crime, as was the case in Sean’s story, is bordering on “criminal” behavior in our justice system.…

    • 1219 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Age doesn't define whether or not you've become an adult it's the maturity that defines whether you have reached the certain point in your life where you are capable of knowing the difference between right and wrong. Sooner or later, but some happen to do so quicker. When a person turns eighteen you have the opportunity to do certain things, such as no longer having a curfew, being able to purchase alcohol ,and also voting rights, meaning that you are completely responsible for the actions you take. Looking at different cases where adolescents have committed a crime they knew that they weren't going to get punished like adults, even though they knew what they were doing was wrong. Adolescents commit crimes as if they were adults, and aren't…

    • 881 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    It is claimed by the Supreme Court in Pequenza’s documentary 15 to Life that, “kids are different” (Pequenza). Juveniles are different then adults their brain is not as mature as a adults brain is hence why the opposition's argument/ ideal is disagreeable. Juveniles should receive mandatory life sentences because it is wrong and cruel for someone so young to receive a punishment so drastic. If a juvenile stole from a store for a candy bar because their family had no money for food. Does that child deserve to spend life in prison?…

    • 709 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Superior Essays

    Juveniles should not be tried as adults for it is wrong to hold adolescents, under the legal age, to adult standards. If children do not even receive the same rights as adults in the first place, it makes no sense to try them in adult court. These juveniles should have the opportunity to be rehabilitated in a positive manner, for they tend to come from troubled households and violent neighborhoods. In over half of the cases these troubled kids don’t know any different way than a life of crime when surrounded by both social and environmental factors that influence their delinquent actions. One must commemorate that juveniles are mentally underdeveloped, and still have time to innovate if their issues are dealt with precisely and accurately.…

    • 1310 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Improved Essays

    The decision of juveniles being tried as adults in the world of criminal justice has usually been an object of controversy. Some agree that an adolescent who commits a serious crime like murder deserves to be penalized exactly like an adult; while others declare that a minor should not face the same punishment as an adult. However, no matter how severe or appalling a crime may be, juveniles should not be tried as adults; the reason being that everyone should be granted the chance to learn from their mistakes. Juveniles should not be punished as adults, simply because they biologically distinct from adults. Teenagers are the midsection between children and adults.…

    • 1250 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays

Related Topics