Juvenile Sentencing Juveniles

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Recommended: Incarceration rehabilitation

Ashley Hodo
Dr. Godat
Honors English II
14 March 2016

Never Too Young:
Juvenile sentences should be determined by the severity of the crime. In 2007, more than 2.18 million juveniles were arrested in the United States according to the Federal Bureau Investigation. Of that 2.18 million, 97,100 of those arrests were for the Violent Crime Index (Crime), which include murder and nonnegligent manslaughter, robbery, aggravated assault, and forcible rape. Many wonder how could one live with themselves knowing that there are children in our prison system, and have to live in those horrid conditions? Is there a better option? In most cases, the answer yes, but for some juveniles and the crimes that they have committed, the answer is a strong no. Some …show more content…

Some may argue that juvenile sentencing should focus on rehabilitation rather than prison time. Many times, juveniles commit crimes based on the fact that they are misguided, have been raised in harsh or troubled environments, and sometimes feel as though they have something to prove to their peers. Majority of juvenile offenses consist of crimes such as liquor laws, drug abuse, disorderly conduct, theft, and vandalism. These crimes usually land juveniles in the probation system or in some type of rehabilitation. In 1899, Jane Addams, Lucy Flower and Julia Lathrop fought to create a separate court in Illinois for juveniles cases that is more rehabilitative, less punitive, and ensure that youthful mistakes wouldn't haunt the youth for the rest of their lives. This initiative spread to 46 states and 16 countries by 1925. …show more content…

These crimes are categorized into the Violent Crime Index, which includes crimes such as murder and aggravated assault (Crime). For example, in Pennsylvania, a 10-year-old boy was charged with the murder of a 90-year-old woman. The child got upset with the woman for yelling at him, and he proceeded to hold a cane to her neck, which ultimately killed her. Her death was deemed a homicide, and the young child was tried as an adult (Steele). In another instance, a 14-year-old teenager named Philip Chism was arrested and tried as an adult for the rape and murder of his high school in Massachusetts. Some could argue that they are children and do not know or understand their actions, however, there is no excuse for intentionally hurting and killing another human being. Rehabilitation may beneficial for the child to help them receive the counseling or help they need, however, prison time is a way in which the juvenile can fully grasp what they have done and the consequences that come along with it. In some cases, if a juvenile’s actions are due to a confused mental state oe stunted emotional development, they will not be tried as an adult and will most likely receive mental or emotional support; however, if the child’s motives are intentional, they will automatically be tried as an

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