While I am a firm believer in proper punishment for crime, the last reading in regards to youthful incarceration has really posed some different thoughts to me. In regards to youth being placed on death row versus alternative means to punishment that correct the behavior in attempt to teaching the youth how to reengage back into life I found my general triangle focused around is there a difference between crimes done by a child versus an adult. The number one thought that came to mind was age; if a person commits a crime at 40 I could see where they could be held to a harsher standard because they have years of lessons and life building skills behind them. This versus that of a young person who has not even left the home of the caregiver before making a stupid decision or action. Next was in regards to background; a youth is generally running from something when they commit their crimes, or are acting out from a place where they feel left behind and angry. Generally these children or youthful offenders suffer from many physical and psychological problems stemming from their background. Now while a person 20 years older may have come from the same background they have proven that they can make it in the world around them but are still choosing to make bad choices. For this reason again I could see a benefit in helping youthful offenders in a different manner than a normal prisoner. Last on my triangle was sadly ethnicity; it was hard to see that we still struggle with race being a reason that some people are targeted for incarceration. It did not stand out directly in regards to differences on how a person should be incarcerated; but just a sad moment in realizes that we still incarcerate or more harshly punish people based on their ethnicity.
Something that squares with me in the reading from Morreale was the study done on the psychological side of youthful offenders where “it has also been suggested that recent data regarding brain development in adolescents may provide a basis for determining that juveniles are less culpable than adults (Morreale, 337)”. No matter what children are children and we cannot do anything to make them age faster then we want; we educate faster, push harder, advance them faster, do whatever we can to make our children the best, but no matter what the truth is that psychologically they are not wise and educated in the way the world works. Many of this comes with age and seeing it in research even though only touched on was very encouraging; if we want to truly help our youth we have to accept that they are different and must be educated and directly wisely before they make ill choices.
The circling point for me in this writing was the question of violations of the eighth amendment on cruel and unusual punishment. It was only recently that the Supreme Court found that the way that people are treated in adult facilities is cruel and unusual under the eight amendments. If this is the case why would we send a youthful person who probably has an abuse background to an adult facility in which he or she will not only be victimized by other inmates but will be victimized by the institution itself? This is why having alternatives that are designed to handle the challenges of youthful offenders and the needs that they have in regards to being prepared for life later, to getting through the problems they have and face currently, there needs to be a set of rules mandated for these people.
For so many youthful offenders they do not have the advancement in life to realize what they have truly done until it is too late. And yes while a price must be paid, I do feel it wise to make it a good choice based on principles of help and rehabilitation instead of continuing to victimize someone who for the most part has not had a real chance at life.
Morreale, M. C., & English, A. (2004). Abolishing the death penalty for juvenile offenders: A background paper. Journal of Adolescent Health, 35(4), 335-339.
Films for the Humanities and Sciences."Death Row Kids" 2005. Online video clip. Arizona Universities Library Consortium. FMG Video On Demand. Accessed on 09 July 2009. http://digital.films.com/play/VGL58V.
APA Reference: Films for the Humanities and Sciences."Missouri's Different Approach to Juvenile Justice" 2009. Online video clip. Arizona Universities Library Consortium. FMG Video On Demand. Accessed on 09 July 2010. http://digital.films.com.ezproxy1.lib.asu.edu/play/VU5HSY
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