The Importance Of Life In Prisons

Adolescents, or those under the age of eighteen, have been sentenced to life in prison without parole. Often times these children feel there is no point to their life and therefore lack motivation to improve their circumstances. You cannot judge a book by its cover. Ask yourself this, is life in prison without parole the most suitable punishment for a minor given a surplus of circumstances? Life sentencing for juveniles is being questioned that it can be ruled unconstitutional because it is seen as cruel and unusual punishment. However, when you have issues such as politicians who are tough on crime, a greater focus on the victim rather than the circumstances of the accused, society feeling threatened by possible future crimes, and the media not reporting the complete facts of crimes; the reasoning of the situation is tucked away. These causes lead to juveniles being sentenced to life in prison with no mercy.
Across the United States crime is a popular concern and topic of debate. Fortunately, politicians can use it to their advantage. Politicians look for support from a majority of individuals, who they promise that they will crack-down on crime. However, by doing this we are not only worsening the punishment …show more content…
A major factor as to why the adolescent commits the crime is their maturity level. As stated by Elizabeth Scott and Laurence Steinberg, “adolescents’ relative developmental immaturity contributes to immature judgment and criminal behavior in the following ways: poor decision making, not considering the future, peer pressure, impulsivity and self-control, and unformed identity.” Everyone grows and develops at their own rate which is why immaturity supports the argument against sentencing minors to life without parole. Also, specific parts of the brain undergo changes in which thinking processes are developed. As Scott and Steinberg