“In the United States each year, children as young as 13 are sentenced to spend the rest of their lives in prison without any opportunity for release” (Peter, 1). Juveniles should not be sentenced to life in prison. During the teenage years teenagers brains are yet to fully mature, and also the courts don’t take the adolescents family life and background and history into consideration.
Human brains aren’t fully matured until around the age of 25. “The biggest surprise in the teenage brain research is finding that a massive brain loss of tissue in the teenage years” (Paul, 1). With brains that aren’t yet fully developed it can lead to decisions that are completely opposite than what you would expect. “Grey matter which researchers believe …show more content…
Children as young as 13 years old have been tried as adults and sentenced to life in prison typically without consideration of their age or circumstances of the offense” (“children in prison” part. 1). Not only have the courts not taken the family history into consideration, but they also do not realize the situation they will now be placing these teens in. “Sadly the states have ignored the crisis and dysfunction that creates child delinquency and instead have subject kids to further victimization and abuse in the adult criminal justice system” (Children in Prison” Part. 2). Children in the criminal justice system have been more likely to be introduced into further violence and abuse killing their character and self esteem before they are even adults and leaves them with that for the rest of their lives. “Some 10,000 children are housed in adult jails and prisons on any given day in America, children are five times more likely to be sexually assaulted in prison than juvenile facilities and race increased risk of suicide” (“Children in Prison” Par. 4). Through the facts and statistics, it shows the teens are willing to do anything to get away from the abuse they’re put into in the system, even if having to take their own life to escape the
Human brains aren’t fully matured until around the age of 25. “The biggest surprise in the teenage brain research is finding that a massive brain loss of tissue in the teenage years” (Paul, 1). With brains that aren’t yet fully developed it can lead to decisions that are completely opposite than what you would expect. “Grey matter which researchers believe …show more content…
Children as young as 13 years old have been tried as adults and sentenced to life in prison typically without consideration of their age or circumstances of the offense” (“children in prison” part. 1). Not only have the courts not taken the family history into consideration, but they also do not realize the situation they will now be placing these teens in. “Sadly the states have ignored the crisis and dysfunction that creates child delinquency and instead have subject kids to further victimization and abuse in the adult criminal justice system” (Children in Prison” Part. 2). Children in the criminal justice system have been more likely to be introduced into further violence and abuse killing their character and self esteem before they are even adults and leaves them with that for the rest of their lives. “Some 10,000 children are housed in adult jails and prisons on any given day in America, children are five times more likely to be sexually assaulted in prison than juvenile facilities and race increased risk of suicide” (“Children in Prison” Par. 4). Through the facts and statistics, it shows the teens are willing to do anything to get away from the abuse they’re put into in the system, even if having to take their own life to escape the