Juvenile justice analyzes whether it is justified for a juvenile to be sentenced to life in prison without parole. The supreme court ruling in 2012 determined that it was against the eighth amendment for cruel and unusual punishment. When sentencing a juvenile, their crime should not be the only thing that is taken into consideration. People under the age of eighteen should not be able to be sentenced to life in prison without parole, however, they should still be held accountable for their actions. Life in prison without parole is an adult sentencing, not one for a child. Juveniles, based on environment, immaturity, and brain development, are not adults and should not have the option to be sentenced to life without parole as such. Adolescents are greatly affected by their environment. For example, children who grow up in broken homes in bad areas find it easy to get involved in gangs, drugs, violence, etc. However, with help, they can find their way away from that. If an adolescent gets sentenced to life in prison, then they will be “denied access to education and rehabilitation programs”(Gail Garinger). Those programs can help…show more content… Heinous crimes should not go unpunished and those adolescents should face the consequences of their actions, however it seems a bit extreme to sentence them to life when they are still growing and developing as people. It also seems to borderline violate the 8th Amendment where no cruel or unusual punishments should be inflicted. It would be an unusual punishment because a sentencing of life without parole is an adult sentencing, not one for a child. During the teenage years, because their brains are still developing, there is room for rehabilitation and should be given the chance to make something better of themselves after they have dealt with the consequences of their
