Tried As Adults by: Latiyah Sullivan

The title should be an insinuation as to what this blog post is about, children being tried as adults for severe cases. Before I delved into this topic, I first did some research, I googled the phrase, "Children tried as adults" and one of the first stories to come up was that of Cassie Jo Stoddart. She was a 16 year old girl stabbed to death in 2006 by two male classmates who considered her their "friend". Both boys were 17 years old, just under the "grown-up" age of 18...and they were both tried as "grown-ups" and sentenced to life in prison. 


Upon reading the story I couldn't believe the family of one of the boys had the audacity to complain and put together a petition to keep him out of jail. It's sickening and I do believe the judge made the right choice. Should children be tried as adults? Whether 10 or 18, I firmly say yes! It must take an unfortunate "accident" for protesters to change their minds : (

"Justice" and "Fair-play"

My opinions on trying/sentencing children as adults in the case of serious offenses and the idea of punishment versus reform/rehabilitation is that its completely justified. I believe that if the child is old enough to commit a crime then he/she should be old enough to face the repercussions. Although, I think it depends on the age of the child and his or hers reasoning for their actions. If they can't fully explain what they did and why they did it then obviously their mentality isn't fully matured and they shouldn't be sentenced or trialed as adults in a case. But if he/she can defend themselves through reasoning, excuses with detailed information then they should be trialed as an adult.

Justice/PlayFair

Trying/Sentencing children as adults: I think that in some cases it is necessary to try children as adults. It really depends on the crime that was committed by the child to decide whether or not he/she should be tried as an adult.

Do Now 1/31/12

When I initially think about what justice means to me the word equality automatically comes to mind. Equality comes in many different shapes and sizes and can cover multiple topics. There are many opinions on whether or not children should be tried as adults in the case of serious offenses. As I stated in my previous blog about the death penalty, I believe that if you don't want to do the time then don't do the crime! Most of the time officials may consider trying a child with adult charges when it has to do with murder, possession of a deadly weapon when already on probation, or consecutive drugs or robbery charges. Even though these children are of young ages and have there whole lives ahead of them that doesn't make up for the fact that you still committed these heinous crimes.

Sentencing Children as Adults : Lanecia Peeler

I think that children should be charged as a adult only if the committed a adult crime. I think children younger than 5 shouldn't be charged as an adult for example  the baby who shot his father with his gun I think that is an accident, and the baby didn't know that the gun was going to hurt and kill his father. I think that young kids do what they see so adults also have a big part of being responsible for what their kids do.Other things kids may also see are on TV and want to do it and get in trouble.The death penalty shouldn't be for kids at all I think that they should just send them to a kids center to see of they can change their life around and if they're on drugs help them get off. According to  http://www.deathpenaltyinfo.org/ many states don't have the death penalty and most of the high death rates for prison is very high in the south region.

Sentencing for non-violent offenders

I think that a non violent offence should be way less a sentence than violent offenders. Violent offenders , well they are way  less bad crimes than with violence. Like for example people that are innocent but they don't need to be in jail. That could be people that got blaimed for someone else's crime . Also drug use, that is non violent offendent , well some drug use , if they don't use violence. In all reality , i think anyone who uses violence should automatiaclly be punished more than people who don't.

My thoughts 1/31/12:

   I belive that children should only be tryed as an adult when they do a crime worthy of it. An example would be for murder, kidnapping, or assult. If your old enough to try to kill someone, or hurt anyone to the point that they almost died. Then you deserve to pay for it no matter how old you are. Your actions have consequences, and always will.

  The idea of punishment over rehabilitation, my idea is that if it's something small like stealing. I think that people should have the option of rehabilitation. Some times al people need is a little help and that can change them. But if it's an offence bigger then a mistamenor then they deserve to be punished and go to jail. Things have a way of getting back to you, what goes around comes around. It also depends on if you get convicted or not.