Juveniles Tried as Adults

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Juveniles Tried As Adults

Thirteen-year-old boy, Cristian Fernandez of Jacksonville, Florida was born on January 14 of 1999 to a mother who was as old as he is today. On March 15 2011, he was arrested relating to the alleged beating of his 2-year-old brother, David. At the time of his arrest, David was under care of St. Luke’s Hospital, receiving treatment for injuries he sustained the day before. It states that Cristian shoved his 2-year-old brother against a bookshelf, causing the young child to have severe head damage. Cristian’s mom, who was only 24 at the time, arrived at the apartment to reveal what happened just moments before. However, it states that his mom did not even call the police or take her son to the hospital until 6 hours after the accident happened. Both Cristian and his mom were charged with murder and Cristian went to court facing life in an adult prison. However, the court found out that Cristian had once been physically, emotionally, and sexually abused by his once stepfather. That been said, Cristian more than likely needed some sort of counseling. However, they still believed that this 12 year-old boy should be tried as an adult. Cristian has been detained for over a year and has not yet had a trial. He faces two trials on three separate indictments brought by State Attorney (“Reverse”). There is no logical reason to deny a child their right to the programs and treatment provided through the juvenile court system.

A movement has started in our country to renovate the juvenile justice system. This movement wants to erase any differences between young offenders and adult criminals. Almost all fifty states have changed their juvenile justice laws, allowing more youths to be tried as adults...

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MaCallair, Dan. “Proposition 21 Is a Bad Policy for California’s Juvenile Offenders.” LexisNexis Academic. n.d. 9 December 2013.

“Myths and Facts.” Partnership for Safety and Justice. RSS Feeds, n.d. Web 9 December 2013.

“National Statistics: Youth Crime.” Campaign for Youth Justice. R+M, n.d. Web 9 December 2013.

“Proposition 21: Juvenile Crime Initiative.” Action Alliance for Children. Jan.-Feb. 2000. Children’s Advocate newsmagazine. Web 9 December 2013.

“Reverse Decision to Charge 12 Year Old Cristian Fernandez as an Adult.” Change.Org. n.d. Web 9 December 2013.

>http:///www.change.org/petitions/reverse-decision-to-try-12-y-o-cristian-fernandez-as- an-adult>

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