Supreme Court rules juvenile life without parole cruel and unusual

Socrtease

Socrtease

Verified User
In a 5-4 decision, the high court struck down as cruel and unusual punishment the laws in about 28 states that mandated a life term for murderers, including those under age 18.

The justices ruled in the cases of two 14-year old olds who were given life terms for their role in a homicide, but their decision goes further. It applies to all those under 18. It does not automatically free any prisoner, and it does not forbid life terms for young murderers.

Nonetheless, it is an important victory for those who have objected to imposing very long prison terms on very young offenders.

Basically strikes down any law that MANDATES LWOP for Juveniles. Gives Judges and Juries discretion again.
 
Socrtease said:
In a 5-4 decision, the high court struck down as cruel and unusual punishment the laws in about 28 states that mandated a life term for murderers, including those under age 18.

The justices ruled in the cases of two 14-year old olds who were given life terms for their role in a homicide, but their decision goes further. It applies to all those under 18. It does not automatically free any prisoner, and it does not forbid life terms for young murderers.

Nonetheless, it is an important victory for those who have objected to imposing very long prison terms on very young offenders.

Basically strikes down any law that MANDATES LWOP for Juveniles. Gives Judges and Juries discretion again.
Click to expand...

I believe it should be a case by case review, there are some juveniles that need to stay in prison forever.
 
The main difficulty I see is that if you convict someone under the age of 18, and keep them locked up for 20 years, you have effectively destroyed their chances at much of a life.

The murderer at 16 is now a 36 year old who has never lived in the real world.
 
WinterBorn said:
The main difficulty I see is that if you convict someone under the age of 18, and keep them locked up for 20 years, you have effectively destroyed their chances at much of a life.

The murderer at 16 is now a 36 year old who has never lived in the real world.
Click to expand...

Knew a guy just like that. Paroled after life at age 38, he was beaten to death before he turned 50.
 
WinterBorn said:
The main difficulty I see is that if you convict someone under the age of 18, and keep them locked up for 20 years, you have effectively destroyed their chances at much of a life.

The murderer at 16 is now a 36 year old who has never lived in the real world.
Click to expand...

And what about the life/lives they destroyed?
Do you think that just because the victim is dead, that the relatives and friends of the victim just forget about the person?
 
I am always for allowing the human factor in such decisions and thus am against minimum mandentory decisions.
 
Rana said:
I believe it should be a case by case review, there are some juveniles that need to stay in prison forever.
Click to expand...
I believe most would need to stay in prison forever. It's not like your average teenager doesn't understand the implications of murder.
 
christiefan915 said:
The average teenage brain is still a work in progress. Read something scientific on the topic for a change.
Click to expand...

Exactly! Condemning a 14 year old to life in prison is outrageous.

I think the home/family they grew up in should be investigated.

It reminds me of one story I read about a teenage girl who delivered a premature baby in a school washroom at a prom and returned to the dance. No one knew she was pregnant as she starved herself. When questioned she said she couldn't tell anyone as it would have been to shameful for her Dad.

Imagine the way she was brought up. The guilt she carried all those months and the guilt she'll carry for the rest of her life. Why couldn't she tell her parents? I think a thorough investigation should have been done to see if her upbringing contributed to her actions. Obviously there was a lack of communication, to say the least.
 
WinterBorn said:
The main difficulty I see is that if you convict someone under the age of 18, and keep them locked up for 20 years, you have effectively destroyed their chances at much of a life.

The murderer at 16 is now a 36 year old who has never lived in the real world.
Click to expand...

You weep for the poor murderer. Not suprising from a liberal
 
apple0154 said:
Exactly! Condemning a 14 year old to life in prison is outrageous.

I think the home/family they grew up in should be investigated.

It reminds me of one story I read about a teenage girl who delivered a premature baby in a school washroom at a prom and returned to the dance. No one knew she was pregnant as she starved herself. When questioned she said she couldn't tell anyone as it would have been to shameful for her Dad.

Imagine the way she was brought up. The guilt she carried all those months and the guilt she'll carry for the rest of her life. Why couldn't she tell her parents? I think a thorough investigation should have been done to see if her upbringing contributed to her actions. Obviously there was a lack of communication, to say the least.
Click to expand...

If a young kid grows up in a crap environment and murders someone what do you think his punishment should be?
 
cawacko said:
If a young kid grows up in a crap environment and murders someone what do you think his punishment should be?
Click to expand...

That would depend on the age and circumstance. In any case the home environment should be thoroughly investigated.

Were there any signs? Cruelty to animals? Abuse by family members?
 
apple0154 said:
That would depend on the age and circumstance. In any case the home environment should be thoroughly investigated.

Were there any signs? Cruelty to animals? Abuse by family members?
Click to expand...

Creulty to animals? WTF?

If a 16 year old kid who came up through the foster system and never really lived in a stable environment murders someone vs. a 16 year old kid who had a relatively stable life who murders someone, how should their punishments be different if at all?
 
cawacko said:
Creulty to animals? WTF?
Click to expand...

Cruelty to animals is often a sign the person has a problem.

If a 16 year old kid who came up through the foster system and never really lived in a stable environment murders someone vs. a 16 year old kid who had a relatively stable life who murders someone, how should their punishments be different if at all?
Click to expand...

I was thinking more of someone who was brought up in an extremely dysfunctional family all their life. Most kids in the foster system experience different families/situations so I would think they're less likely to have been subjected to bizarre behavior for long periods.

My point was the situation in which they grew up should be investigated. If there was abnormal behavior for which the parents never sought treatment/advice that could have been a contributing factor. If one is responsible for their child if he destroys someone's property where does murder fit in?
 
apple0154 said:
Cruelty to animals is often a sign the person has a problem.



I was thinking more of someone who was brought up in an extremely dysfunctional family all their life. Most kids in the foster system experience different families/situations so I would think they're less likely to have been subjected to bizarre behavior for long periods.

My point was the situation in which they grew up should be investigated. If there was abnormal behavior for which the parents never sought treatment/advice that could have been a contributing factor. If one is responsible for their child if he destroys someone's property where does murder fit in?
Click to expand...

I don't understand what you are getting at. Are you suggesting the parents should be charged with murder if their child comments one? What is an investigation into the parents going to do?

And you don't think kids who grew up in foster homes and with different families aren't subjected to crazy dsyfunctional families all their lives either? Those are the types of kids that grow up without ever feeling loved and it is much easier for someone like that to take anothers life.
 
Ok here's my problem with this and I expect to get crap from the liberal members for it.

A teenager committing murder is exactly the same as an adult committing murder. We don't sentence for the offender, we sentence for the crime. The crime is the same let the punishment be the same. The person is still dead, no matter how sorry the offender is or how young they might be or how immature their brain is. They still destroyed a life.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top