Over the years, many juvenile delinquents weren't charged like adults. Their parents would have to pay their fine's or go to court depending of what they did wrong. Although, now that I had the time to dig up more information and stories about juvenile delinquents & their punishments, I have found that little kids, such as the ages of 5-17, are being charged like adults and have to attend adult jail. In my opinion these consequences are extremely horrific for young kids to be punished in this way.
While I was doing my research, I came across a few terrifying stories. The first story I came across was about a 12-year-old boy, was charged with first degree murder. He killed his own 17 month old cousin, with a wooden baseball bat. The little boy had to face adult jail and life imprisonment. Many people were upset that the judge had decided this. “...kids don't fit in the adult world, in an adult prison,” declared a young women.
“Kids Killing Kids Tests Justice System.” was written & published by Carol Marbin Miller; McClatchy Newspapers. Mrs. Miller did not express her opinion on that situation that had occurred, although, she did interview a few people about their opinion towards the situation. “ I think kid's shouldn’t be trialed as adults and have to attend adult prison because they are too young to face something so horrible. Killer kids are still kids but they can still be punished in a different way. In my opinion, adult jail is a severely cruel punishment for such a young kid.” exclaimed an anonymous person.
Another story I have came across was about an 16 year-old boy who unknowingly was involved in a robbery-turned-murder. Four older men ordered the 16 year-old to keep look out. The boy thought it was a simple drug deal, nothing more. When the alarm started to ring, the four men left a body and the boy behind. The boy was charged with first-degree murder and was sentenced to 30 years in prison. The state of Pennsylvania was upset because the boy was clearly framed and the jury didn't let him explain much of his side of the story.
“States Reconsider Juvenile Life Sentences” was written & published by Maggie Clark: Stateline.org.
Maggie Clark expressed the states feelings towards these decisions that were being made by the court of law and the jury. People were starting to realize that these punishments towards kids are going way to far. “These kids don’t deserve adult jail or execution for what they did. Of course they do deserve a great punishment and they also need some kind of therapy. They need to be taught carefully by someone that had a higher encounter with kids like these. Adult jail and execution are kids greatest fears, why should the judges and the jury decide what kind of punishment they get if they don’t listen to the kids part of the story?” questioned Mrs. Holbrook (mother of the 16-year-old boy). Many people protested about these punishments and failed to change the judges minds.
