Should Teens be Sentenced to Life in Prison
by Should we sentence our teens to prison for life, even for the most heinous crimes? It is a challenging question and one I don’t know the answer to. It’s easy enough to lock them away and throw away the key, but could these teenagers have been saved and lived a useful life with rehabilitation? What do you think?
Should Teens be Sentenced to Life in Prison
Scientific studies have shown that a teenagers brain is underdeveloped in ways that make teens less capable of making responsible decisions. Teens are known to be prone to ill considered actions, they are risk takers by nature. In the 2005 case of Roper v. Simmons, Justice Anthony Kennedy’s analysis was what he described as ” the stark reality that the United States is the only country in the world that continues to give official sanction to the teenagers death penalty.” A reported 2,574 juveniles are serving life without parole.
It is argued that the United States stands alone in sentencing children to die in prison without a hope of ever being released. We read about children in Afghanistan having their hand cut off for stealing bread, and we recoil in horror. Are our actions any better? To be truthful I didn’t know we did this to our teenagers until I did the research and it was shocking. Senator Alan Simpson acknowledges that its fundamentally inhumane to give up on a youthful offender.
I am conflicted. I do not like to think about teenagers being executed or locked up for life, but then consider the case of Joe Sullivan and two accomplices. They robbed a 72 year old woman , then returned later to her house and raped her. Sullivan was tried in adult court and sentenced to life without parole. He was 13 at the time.
Another case was Terrace Jamar Graham who tried to rob a restaurant with two accomplices. He was charged as an adult, pled guilty to armed robbery, received one year behind bars and three years probation. When he violated probation, Graham was sentenced to life without parole. He was 17. In both cases the judges thought these teenagers were beyond hope. Were these boys beyond hope, or could they have served time in the juvenile system until 21 and been rehabilitated? Nobody knows. Do we have two wasted lives here, or have lives been saved by locking these two boys up and throwing away the key? What is your opinion?
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Post Commentdrelayaraja
On September 22, 2010 at 11:41 pm
My personal view is that everyone has to get a chance be good…
BriannaMorgan
On September 22, 2010 at 11:48 pm
Article that make you think…
Mark Gordon Brown
On September 22, 2010 at 11:58 pm
I think the issue of parenting needs to be addressed as well, and it may depend on the crime. Of course if you were the one wronged you may feel differently than if you were the parent of the teen in question.
so in short I have no answers other than to say the parents need to be looked at, but by then its too late, damage is done.
Pam Stushnoff
On September 23, 2010 at 12:05 am
That’s a tough question. The punishment needs to be severe enough to make an impression on a troubled teen or else the problems evolve into more serious crimes. Yet does a teen that commits armed robbery deserve the same sentence as a teen who murders his/her family? or bullies another student to death?
Makes you think.
Hettie
On September 23, 2010 at 12:06 am
It really depends on the person; those two young boys who killed that child in England a few years back did it for the fun of it so it seems. One was recently released and it was not long before he was behind bars again. In some cases the parents may be to blame but not always; Hettie
Eldridge
On September 23, 2010 at 12:19 am
Hmm…
Anj M
On September 23, 2010 at 12:42 am
Its a serious question. I personally think, a second chance would be good.
GodsGrace
On September 23, 2010 at 12:44 am
Nice Post
amanda casey
On September 23, 2010 at 12:50 am
Excellent post! Around my area, there was an eleven year old who shot the lady his father was marrying and killed her and her unborn baby. No court can make up its mind if they want to keep him at the jeuvenile detection center or charge him as an adult.
Aiden OSullivan
On September 23, 2010 at 12:52 am
Good article. You have many strong points to be made. I believe they should be given a second chance, but to give it to them so quickly or they’ll think they beat the system. Maybe until they’re 21 since by then they’d be an adult with a fully developed brain and then see what happens.
Anuradha Ramkumar
On September 23, 2010 at 1:08 am
They must be given a chance is what I feel.
Noeal V
On September 23, 2010 at 1:33 am
Nice Share.
webseowriters
On September 23, 2010 at 1:49 am
A nice share
Gowtham Mandarada
On September 23, 2010 at 1:50 am
Article make me think.
PSingh1990
On September 23, 2010 at 2:06 am
Nice Share.
My World
On September 23, 2010 at 2:13 am
Nice Post……….
thanks for share.
Jamie Myles
On September 23, 2010 at 2:14 am
Well Ruby, You have posed a pretty tough Question here.
I would think that you would have to look at several factors. one being the actual crime and the level of brutality. Another would be the criminal history of the teen. Was this his/her first offence or has he/she been a repeat offender? Actual age of the offender. There is a big difference between a 13year old compared to a 17 or 18 tear old. and any mitigating circumstances.
vijayanths
On September 23, 2010 at 2:26 am
thought provoking post.
Hendrik
On September 23, 2010 at 2:28 am
Good
wonder
On September 23, 2010 at 2:55 am
I feel sorry for them, answering this is difficult.
Eunice Tan
On September 23, 2010 at 3:00 am
It’s hard to answer this. However teens should realize to always be good citizens.
Christine Ramsay
On September 23, 2010 at 3:23 am
I am in two minds. I would like to think they can be rehabilitated but then if once free they go on to commit further serious crimes we would blame ourselves. It is a difficult one.
Christine
zain0077
On September 23, 2010 at 3:30 am
Well written.
gaby7
On September 23, 2010 at 3:46 am
Crimes are crimes no matter who commits them!
No Name 1
On September 23, 2010 at 3:50 am
They should be punished but not for life.
Percy
On September 23, 2010 at 4:06 am
Everyone has the chance to change. Even the worst murderer can change. If he meet the Lord , the lord will change the heart and everything will be changed.
LCM Linda
On September 23, 2010 at 4:30 am
A tough question. I think the teens should receive education in the prison and work free of charge for many years. Need professional to assess if they could be released in future or not. Thanks for sharing.
THEBIGBOPPER
On September 23, 2010 at 4:31 am
It’s unfortunate but sometimes society needs protecting from certain individuals.
RAJEEV BHARGAVA
On September 23, 2010 at 4:51 am
a really well written article.
Rehoboth
On September 23, 2010 at 6:18 am
$- nice post-$
Soul Fire
On September 23, 2010 at 7:00 am
Nice share.
Emmie
On September 23, 2010 at 7:13 am
Only for hideous crimes where as an adult, or an older adult, they would be considered an even bigger risk. I know someone above mentioned the two boys that killed that young boy many years ago here in the UK.
That was just sick and done for the hell of it. One of them is out now, with a new identity etc. He may have served his time, but he is not that 11 year old boy anymore and as an adult he could do much worse.
I agree that everyone can change, but where do we draw the line?
Heather Dawn
On September 23, 2010 at 7:29 am
I’m with you Ruby, in that I don’t know which side to take on this. It’s too bad people don’t come with a manual to tell us “this can be fixed” or “give up you’re broken”. I tend to assume the best in people, or at least hope for it. It’s just so hard to see what’s going to happen, even when kids are young. On the other hand, I don’t know anyone who is the same person at thirty that they were at thirteen. Does that mean the teen will get better or worse?
I just don’t know.
ashucharu
On September 23, 2010 at 7:54 am
great share…..if someone is doing the wrong thing he/she needs to ne punished for tht
papaleng
On September 23, 2010 at 8:30 am
A very tough question to answer. But let us be reminded that every crime or wrong-doing in general must have its due punishment.
Starpisces
On September 23, 2010 at 9:25 am
ya, agree with Christine.
A good post.
Phoenix Montoya
On September 23, 2010 at 9:51 am
These kids are our future. I think its a harsh thing to do. They are still young and I do believe that they need guidance and killing them? They are still very young, with proper direction there is still hope for them. A good share ma’am.
Jimmy Shilaho
On September 23, 2010 at 12:25 pm
A real dilemma to me but I think it depends on age. Sixteen, seventeen……these are fit enough to stand trial and serve a sentence.
carissimi
On September 23, 2010 at 1:08 pm
you raise a lot of good questions
MadGuyyy
On September 23, 2010 at 1:45 pm
hmmm
cavik
On September 23, 2010 at 2:48 pm
Some of you saying these kids are our future… Which future? With rob, rape and so on? I dont want such future. Should we give them second chance? To repeat same? Even they will come to rob and rape your old mom? Who knows whom they will choose next time… Everyone should be punished according to the guilt!
Dragoonk
On September 23, 2010 at 4:06 pm
It’s kind of hard to judge weather a teen deserves life sentences and such. Very Good Article.
Shirley Shuler
On September 23, 2010 at 4:39 pm
You pose a tough question here, Ruby. I would have to agree with cavik. Everyone should be punished according to the guilt.
CA Johnson
On September 23, 2010 at 8:34 pm
This is a very interesting article. I think I am conflicted too. I don’t think that teenagers should get a slap on the wrist if they commit a heinous crime, but if the crime is a misdemeanor, I don’t think they should spend their lives in jail.
crisdiwata
On September 24, 2010 at 4:22 am
I believe that the environment where the child grow up really affects his character especially how he raised by his family. To your question, they must know the consequences of what they’ve done but I think to put them in jail for the rest of their lives or execute them is a grave punishment. Children who grow up with the right kind of love and have been taught to respect people will never do such a thing. These children I guess has been led to the wrong path but we who can understand must guided them back to the right way. Guess you’ve already heard it “you who is clean must throw the first stone”.
Angelgirlpj
On September 24, 2010 at 4:13 pm
Serious question about a serious problem. I personally never want to have to make that judgment. It does make one think!
giftarist
On September 24, 2010 at 5:51 pm
A very tough question. In my opinion, I think teens should get another chance.
LewSethics
On September 25, 2010 at 7:47 am
Sometimes it helps to look at the reverse side of the coin to get a better persective.
Do we reward underage success stories differently than adult successes?
Yes we do, we guide them through the changes they are experiencing and help them make decisions. We give them extra encouragement and praise.
But we don’t take the money they have earned.
They still reap what they sow.
I believe first time offenders need some mercy. The first time offender should be punished, but not the same way as a two or three time offender, unless the criminal shows no remorse. They should reap what they sow.
It might be cruel to the prisoner, but maybe some other poor kid will think twice, if he knows that there are terrible consequences to his actions.
Tulan
On September 26, 2010 at 1:47 pm
That’s a hard one. A 12 year old boy last year coached a 4 year old girl into the woods, raped her, killed and buried her there. What can you do with such a child? I wouldn’t like to see him locked up forever if he could be rehabilitated. It is hard to know what to do. Maybe keep him in juvenile and radically educate him until age 21. I don’t know.
Annettenasser
On September 26, 2010 at 4:20 pm
mistakes cannot be correct by another mistakes,, teenagers could be guided in a very though & proper way of descipline,, which way or how ,, i dont know either,,
PR Mace
On September 26, 2010 at 9:58 pm
This is a touch call, I think each situation must be looked at carefully.
margaridab
On September 28, 2010 at 1:30 pm
I think there has to be alternatives provided by the governments so that people can be reeducated and cared when there are mental problems.
yes me
On September 29, 2010 at 7:01 pm
Well, what a biggie Ruby… well, I for one say that no one man, or woman should ever have the power, to give out a life sentence with out parole for adults or teens… as for teens 18 for a life sentence, or in the under18’s then it must be a sentence with a chance of parole at some stage, as for death sentence… I am against death sentences, the past has taught us that far too many innocent folk got topped, just look at the cases coming up near daily of the folk through DNA who where innocent, and killed or served 25 35 years then the real culprit is found we should all look at being a much more just, and caring sharing society world wide, and learn from each other. cheers
MaxBuceo
On September 30, 2010 at 10:22 pm
Great Job. So many comments!…i like it