I will do an article on the effects of juveniles convicted as adults. Additionally, I want to explore the history of this topic. Personally, I believe that it is unfair to give minors the same punishment that is normally given to adults. Looking at our current criminal justice system, unfortunately, most juveniles convicted as adults are expected to grow up and mature in an environment without guidance or role models. As a result, they tend to lose sight of what the right thing to do is. They are surrounded by those who are just like them with no beneficial factors. Because of this, once freed from this knowledge-limited environment, they have not been taught or learned how to change in a positive way, which pushes them to commit further crimes in the future. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay I chose this topic because I recently watched a documentary, The Central Park 5, that affected me deeply. I couldn't believe what these teenagers had gone through because the system had failed them. Both the short- and long-term impacts on these children were severe in scope. I want to delve deeper into this topic because, after watching it, I wondered how many others have been wrongly convicted because of the way they look, where they come from, and in general just the stereotypical image they fit into. Korey Wise was a 16-year-old who was sent to an adult prison on a false rape conviction. He was forced to grow up by the system. This case goes completely against David Miller's three principles of justice. The first is that their needs are met. These boys were given neither food nor water and once incarcerated they had a low quality of life. The second is that everyone gets what they deserve. The minors had not committed any crime but were still incarcerated and considered criminals by the nation. Finally equality, in my opinion the most important thing. These young people were not guaranteed any equality during the trial, otherwise they would not have been wrongly convicted. They were racially discriminated against. I personally believe that the criminal justice system should have moved towards a transformative justice approach after this specific case. It is a mirror of our society. They have lost a lot from the years taken away. They don't have the things they should have at this age. His youth was taken away from him. No money brings back time and life. Transformative justice recognizes that the individual is the product of the community, so to truly address crime we must change the community, environment or structure. The community and the authorities at the time were prejudiced, this is a big problem. If the nation had not maintained this attitude at that time, the case would have completely changed the verdict. The number of juveniles incarcerated in adult prisons and jails has increased dramatically over the years. “Each day, approximately 10,000 juveniles are housed in adult prisons and jails – 7,500 in jails and 2,700 in prisons, respectively” (Curley 1). The laws of this practice differ greatly from each state. The state of Texas allows juveniles convicted of particular crimes to be treated as adults. Unlike most states, Texas has very few restrictions when it comes to trying teenage inmates as adults. A minor may be processed in adult court for any crime under two circumstances: probable cause to suspect that the minor committed the crime, and juvenile courts must consider the critical nature of the crime or the minor's background torequest proceedings in adult court. Additionally, Texas is one of nine states in the country that often charges 17-year-olds as adults. There have been numerous attempts to reform the law and raise the age of criminal responsibility for adults to 18, but they have all failed in the legislature. In 2012, the U.S. Supreme Court ordered that sentencing juveniles to life in prison without the possibility of parole for the crime of murder was considered cruel and unusual punishment. This case involved the two states, Alabama and Arkansa, and their laws that authorized that all persons convicted of murder would be sentenced to life in prison without regard to individualized sentencing and the possibility, not the guarantee, of parole. The Court then declared that minors must be evaluated separately from adults because minors have lower skills and a better rehabilitative capacity. Furthermore, the Court learned that minors are further affected by negative peer pressure and family-related pressure. In Cameron Moon v. State of Texas, which occurred in 2014, the Texas High Court overturned the transfer of juveniles to adult court. The court said the information gathered was factually inadequate to support the ruling. The Supreme Court has said that juvenile courts must clearly demonstrate the reasons for the transfer if they want their decision to be taken into account. Cameron Moon was convicted of a crime of murder at the age of 16. Although he had no previous convictions other than a car key violation. For this reason, the State of Texas asked Moon to be tried as an adult. During its hearing, the State offered no evidence on the elements the judge was legally obligated to recognize before he could order the transfer to adult court, regardless of the severity of the crime. In defense, his lawyer made sure those present in court knew he lacked maturity and was not fully developed mentally. For this reason he would benefit from the rehabilitative advantage provided by the youth system. Rehabilitation programs are extremely important in the juvenile system in Texas, while the adult system is entirely built to penalize criminals. Regardless, Moon was convicted and sentenced to thirty years in adult prison. “The Court of Criminal Appeals concluded that the juvenile court abused its discretion in waiving its jurisdiction over Cameron Moon and certifying him for trial as an adult. The district court's decision was reversed” (Medlin 1). There are numerous programs and opportunities that are given to juvenile offenders who are sent to juvenile prisons. There are many intact laws that provide education to minors. In contrast, several adult prisons have no access to education. Without education, young people do not have the ability to feed themselves. They are forced to stay stuck in the same mindset they arrived with. Education is something that can only help a person. If prison facilities do not focus on educating criminals, the state cannot expect to see change. They are setting them up for failure. With education comes knowledge that leads to a better chance of getting a job and being able to start earning a living. Without this, once released from prison they have no chance to improve themselves and move forward. Juveniles are at greater risk of sexual harassment in the adult system than any other group of offenders. “The Prison Rape Elimination Act of 2003 states.
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