Juveniles Who Kill: Juvenile Deliquents or Adult Murderers?
posted over 12 years ago
I am writing a paper on the subject of juvenile criminals and would like some input from the student body. The questions I pose to you are as follows:
Should jurisdiction of juveniles who commit certain offenses, such as rape or murder, be waived, resulting in a trial within the criminal court? Or should juveniles be subjected to the juvenile court? Why or why not?
Consider the brief arguments presented below:
Yes:
1. Offenses may be reduced if juveniles are sentenced to longer sentences in adult courts rather than short sentences in juvenile courts
2. It is thought that experience in the adult court will present the youth with an alternative perspective.
No:
1. A teenager's ability to reason appropriately when making decisions is less developed than adults, therefore different punitive measures are needed.
2. Because society has determined that a child under 18 years of age is not responsible for himself, society maintains some responsibility for what the child until he reaches 18.
The above is obviously not a comprehensive foundation for this argument but it serves to simply get ideas flowing.
Commentary of any sort is greatly appreciated! You can simply agree with any of the reasoning stated above, provide your own, or simply answer the poll.
Thank you :)
Should jurisdiction of juveniles who commit certain offenses, such as rape or murder, be waived, resulting in a trial within the criminal court? Or should juveniles be subjected to the juvenile court? Why or why not?
Consider the brief arguments presented below:
Yes:
1. Offenses may be reduced if juveniles are sentenced to longer sentences in adult courts rather than short sentences in juvenile courts
2. It is thought that experience in the adult court will present the youth with an alternative perspective.
No:
1. A teenager's ability to reason appropriately when making decisions is less developed than adults, therefore different punitive measures are needed.
2. Because society has determined that a child under 18 years of age is not responsible for himself, society maintains some responsibility for what the child until he reaches 18.
The above is obviously not a comprehensive foundation for this argument but it serves to simply get ideas flowing.
Commentary of any sort is greatly appreciated! You can simply agree with any of the reasoning stated above, provide your own, or simply answer the poll.
Thank you :)
