Comments on: Juvenile Life Without Parole

By: T

Fri, 04 Dec 2009 06:45:15 +0000

This is really something else. I have heard of children being lead by adult criminals, and taking the wrap for the crime. However, this case sounds like he was a vicitm of intimidation and kidnapping (based on the article) However, I do feel that youth these days (2009) are committing more serious crimes and dispositioned to residential treatment facilities for 3-6 months. At which time, the consequences are not fitting the crime. This then does not allow the youth to begin to understand what “taking responsibility for ones actions” means. Assisting in their continued criminal lifestyle and mind set. Overall, not reducing recidivism in our juv justice system. We have even more work to do in our judical system, than in the early 70’s. God Bless our children that are products of adults self distructive conditions.

By: HEN

HEN — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 01:36:07 +0000

CORRECTION

FLORIDA IS A BARBARIC STATE – IT IS UNCONSCIONABLE THAT A JUDGE COULD SENTECE A CHILD, A BABY, TO LIFE FOR
ROBBERY. IN THE CASE OF KENNETH YOUNG,
A CHILD WHO WAS JUST 14 YRS OLD – AND
BEING FORCED BY AN ADULT CRIMINAL
TO PARTICIPATE IN CRIMINAL ACTIVITY
IS NO MORE RESPONSIBLE FOR HIS ACTS,
THAN ANY PERSON – BEING FORCED OR
COMPELLED TO COMMIT A CRIME, FOR FEAR
FOR HIS LIFE OR THE LIFE OF HIS FAMILY. I AM HARD ON CRIME AND ON
CRIMINALS – BUT I AM SOFT ON CHILDREN -
AND EVEN THOUGH SOME MAKE WHAT WE BELIEVE TO BE CONSCIOUS DECISIONS TO
PARTICIPATE IN CRIMINAL ACTIVITY – AT
WHAT AGE, STAGE OF DEVELOPMENT, DO WE
DETERMINE THERE IS NO HOPE FOR REMORSE,
REHABILITATION AND/OR MATURITY. HOW DO WE ALLOW THE GOVT TO DECIDE THIS HUMAN BEING, THIS CHILD, SHOULD BE LOCKED
AWAY FOREVER. THIS IS CLEARLY A TYPE
OF GENOCIDE, THAT INVOLVES POOR,
MINORITY CHILDREN, OFTEN INVOLVED IN
ACTIVITIES BECAUSE OF THEIR CIRCUMSTANCES. IF WE PUT MONEY IN
IMPROVING CONDITIONS IN OUR COMMUNITIES, OUR SCHOOLS, AND IN
JOB TRAINING INSTEAD OF PRISONS WE
COULD RIGHTLY CONTINUE TO CLAIM WE
ARE THE GREATEST NATION. WE ARE LOOSING
STATUS IN THE WORLD – WE HAVE MORE PRISONERS THAN ANY COUNTRY – AND WE PUT LESS EMPHASIS ON EDUCATION THAN MANY COUNTRIES- IT’S NO WONDER. WE MUST LEARN TO FORGIVE – PUNISHMENT SHOULD BE COMENSERATE TO THE CRIME – SINCE WHEN IS A ROBBERY COMMITTED BY A CHILD EQUAL LIFE W/O PAROLE. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE – SAVE OUR CHILDREN.

By: Carl

Carl — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 22:59:43 +0000

Just cause you are under the age of 18 does not make you a child. No one over the age of 10 should be labeled a child. We are not sticking infants in prison for life, we are holding young adauts responsable for there actions. In almost every other aspect of a teenagers life its to become more adult untill it comes to pay the price of there actions.

By: Margaret McClurkin

Margaret McClurkin — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 18:02:36 +0000

Consider the case of Christopher Pittman who, at such a young age, killed his grandmother and grandfather. As horrible in nature as the crime was, Christopher is serving a 30-year sentence. In the UK, he would have been placed under the care of adults who would have monitored and guided him until he reached the age of 21 at which point he would have been released.

By: secretary

secretary — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 17:56:45 +0000

In other countries a male is consider an adult at 13 year old. At 13 they can handle a AK-47 or a RPG. He can kill and destory or be killed or destoryed. Maybe that when a child does a crime against society a part of his body is remove Something that fits the crime. While this might not stop crime from happening it would send a message to those that their actions would cause them pain for the rest of their lives. It would be kind of hard to be involed in robbery if you are running around in a wheel chair.
Living in jail for decades with 3 meals a day and a semi-safe cell may sound like Hell today, but think what other countries do to their young offenders.

By: David

David — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 01:58:16 +0000

These monsters had the brains to follow through on these heinous crimes. They have proven, at a young age, that they are not fit nor to be trusted to live amongst us. They’re where they belong; incarcerated away from the rest of us. When they can figure out how to give the victims a 2nd chance at life we can then talk about a 2nd chance for the perp. Until then, don’t do the crime if you can’t do the time.

By: Teg

Teg — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 01:54:04 +0000

children today are more vicious and irresponsible than ever before. I wouldn’t for a moment consider further empowering them with the promise of leniency.

By: niesha

niesha — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 02:09:27 +0000

i do belive that he should have been punished for his crime, but i don’t think he should have been tried as an adult. our sorrounding sometimes influnces our actions and when you are a child it will have a much greater impact on you than it would if you were an adult. when the person above said he should have went to the police that easier said than done. i dont think robbery should earn you life in prison….if he didn’t take anyones life why should he loose his. to hash of a punishment.

By: jason

jason — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 16:18:53 +0000

this is not right we shod try to cang the law but i see what the mothers seay to im a Juvenile and i say that we shodl give then a nother changs

By: Angel

Angel — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 17:39:00 +0000

I have no sympathy for this criminal. He was old enough to know what he was doing was wrong. He could have called the police for help that is a lot easier, but he CHOOSE not do do that and to commit the crimes instead. If he were let out he would only go back to crime and others would be hurt in the process. The victims need justice. He is the guilty one and he should pay the time. He was robbing people for goodness sake, he and his partner carried a gun. He is exactly where he deserves to be in prison.