Should youth be charged as adults for committing a crime? If so, what age?
 

This is a spin-off from the previous thread: 12 year old kills mother and brother, after being abused. What is your opinion should a child go to jail for committing a crime such as murder? More information here: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...042901162.html

No he should be join the army instead.

-Rudey

Once a person knows right from wrong then of course they should be charged as an adult for serious crimes only. Now if a juvenile stole a car, being charged as an adult may be an extreme...but taking someone's life is a whole different ball game.

Are your thoughts the same if the child is abused and kills in retaliation?

I dont think children should ever be charged as adults.

What sense does that make? Can I commit a crime and be charged as a juvenille? I know that crimes committed by children are serious. But rehabilitation needs to always play a role in sentencing.

Because the child was abused doesn't mean that they have to resort to that as a means of escape. As a person who was sexually abused for years by a relative, killing him never crossed my mind. Yeah, the pain was great and sometimes still is. I believe that ultimately God is in control of all situations and circumstances and those who come against His (God's) children will be punished. The relative who abused me later died in an explosion.

not too long back we had a 14 year old child shoot and kill his bus driver here in tennessee - i have no problems with this kid being charged as an adult for this crime

at 14 i would *hope* that somebody has an understanding of life and death and the implications of taking one

on the other hand - in the case of abuse... retaliation is perhaps not the appropriate word, but rather self defense(?) *granted i have limited info about this particular child's situation* but i could see where it might be similar to a battered spouse... my greater concern in this would be that this child felt it necessary to murder in the first place. if the child was being abused somebody should have been there to intervene on the child's behalf before it ever got that far - of course that's in the ideal world

- marissa

Sorry to hear of your abuse. No one should ever have to experience that. Just as God has control it is real to understand and know that the devil does as well if you let him in. Some times when all we have in our minds is hatred the devil is in control. I am not sure when you experienced your situation but the circumstances depends on the child. Nowadays, all children see is killing-in movies, video games, cartoons, and magazines, so if this is an alternative there, why wouldn't it be in a child's mind at home? There have been several cases where parents were abusing their children and the child murdered them. I think a while back the Menendez brothers, classic case. “As the young man watched the movie, he called to his older brother who joined him and together they watched the "Billionaire Boys Club." Later, they began to discuss killing their father. Each brother complained to the other about how domineering and controlling their father was, how impossible it was for either brother to please him, how he planned to disinherit both brothers from his will and how poorly he treated their mother. The brothers rationalized that if they killed their father, they would have to kill their mother because she could not survive emotionally without their father.” Referenced here: http://www.crimelibrary.com/menendez/menendezmain.htm

I would be more in favor of revising the penal code for juvenile discipline to be more broad in what the mandatory/maximum sentence is. For instance, the recommended sentence for a 12 year old that commits murder should include maximum of what an 18 year old could face, but a lower and/or different minimum (ex. option for counseling/rehab). Let the judge decide what works for the individual involved. Theoretically, isn't that what they're there for???

I agree, I think it does have to happen right after the act though to be self-defense or defending while in the act. Not really sure about the actually language but I see where you are going with this. I think it is the same as a battered wife and I agree society has failed this child because neighbors knew and no one reported the abuse.

I definitely agree that rehabilitation is needed along with deep therapeutic counseling.

I agree.

The entire penal system is corrupt and flawed. It needs to be completely redone. I am of the opinion that if we were to ever get a female president, those revisions may actually happen.

Specifically if we get a female president who is a mother (especially one who's kids have ever been in any kind of trouble).

Female President
 

Could that actually happen? That would be great. Are we, as women the majority voter? Not sure about the statistics. Would that be a factor? Look at Shirley Chislom. She did not have a chance as a woman or as an African American although she was passionate about the people and knew her stuff. Hillary maybe our next great hope for equality and justice. :D