Should Juvenile Get The Life Sentence?

Question

I have a few questions as I'm watching They Call Us Monsters on Netflix. It's a documentary following three teens in a juvenile facility. At what age, do you believe children should be tried as adults and under what circumstances? Do you think there should be a set age to where children can even be tried, for what crimes? And lastly, as the poll suggests, should they be able to receive life/death sentences? I'm very curious

Accepted Answer

I don't believe in any set age. Rape and murder with clear intent should be charged as an adult crime.

A teenager, 17, raped a 3 year old boy and said "they won't remember it" as their defense.

The case of Junko Furuta: high school age boys kidnap a teen girl as revenge for her not liking one of them/their friends, brutally rape and murder her. I'm not going to share any details because I've seen how people on here have claimed to vomit or cry at very tame news cases and I really am afraid that I'll give someone a heart attack if I share the extent of this case.

Bottom line is-- there are many "children" under the age of 18 who know exactly what they're doing with their crimes. If the crimes are severe and there is clear intent, I believe they should be charged as an adult. In rare horrendous cases similar to Junko Furuta and the Toybox Killers I support the death penalty. In more tame cases where a kid is mentally disturbed or confused from years of abuse then I support them being in a psychiatric facility, not prison, so that when they come back out into the world they won't be as bad off.

Answer

I think the problem extends further beyond what they "deserve" with sentencing. If a minor, let's say 15 years old, commits murder and then they are sentenced to 40 years. Do you think at the age of 55, they will know how to live out in normal society? 15 is not that young, but that's when children start learning things like how to pay bills, how to cook their own food, and what they need to survive. And I don't say this because I think they need to be in prison for life, because I don't think that. I think at a young age, depending on the crime, they can be rehabilitated if done properly. The only thing is, the US prison system does not foster proper rehabilitation. If anything, it adds a detriment and does the opposite of rehabilitating. It's not a simple yes or no answer because there is a lot involved. I think minors in the system could use a lot of therapy and guidance.

Answer

I think it definitely depends on the age, the crime, and the intent. Like if a 17 year old premeditated the kidnap, rape, torture and murder of another human being, then I think that definitely deserves a severe punishment. Other times I think they should focus more on getting the child help.

Answer

I'd say about 14 16 is when they should start getting tried as adults I mean it's not like they don't know the difference between right and wrong they're not babies

Answer

There was a 17 year old in my city who murdered his parents with a hatchet, and severely injured 3 of his siblings (it's amazing they even survived, but one has serious impairments), and he's serving life in prison, and rightfully so in my opinion. I've seen the video footage and he wasn't even remorseful at all, and no the parents weren't abusive. My best friends mom was his teacher and she said one day he was normal and the next he was constantly scribbling in a notebook and drawing demons (a lot of people think he was possessed), and after the murder they found his journal and he had pre-meditated killing them, saying he tried to combat his thoughts by reading the Bible but he couldn't stop himself any longer and they had to die?! For no. Reason. So yeah depending on the situation, they should.

Answer

Totally depends. Look at lee malvo. He got 2 mandatory life sentences for his crimes. Now they are appealing that there should be no mandatory life sentences for minors. Ok, I can see that they shouldn't be mandatory. But because of what he did (multiple serial killings and terrorism) he will probably go through sentencing again and get the same sentence because it fits his crimes, not because it was mandatory.

Answer

If they're under 16 they need rehabilitation, not a life sentence.

Answer

I think this is just one issue in a loooong list of issues for the criminal justice system in the USA. For one of the most economically developed countries in the world, it needs to hang it's metaphorical head in shame when it comes to penal policy. The age of Criminal responsibility is too young in many EDCs and many countries have massive flaws in their justice system, but I don't think anywhere gets it quite as horrifically wrong as the states!

Answer

I accidentally pushed yes 👎

Answer

Depends on the age and crime. Kids, if done right, can be rehabilitated.

Should Juvenile Get The Life Sentence?

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