In class we discussed a study by Robert Agnew, that used Strain Theory to determine the factors that cause delinquency with children. This reading was interesting because of the attempt to predict why children behave the way they do with data that is limited to only a few criteria. With other readings we have discussed various models for human behavior, but we have not yet discussed how people are punished for any deviance or delinquency. I found this article on the New York Times website, which was about the recent Supreme Court case that ruled on the harshness of sentences for minors, specifically life without chance for parole. While reading the article I noticed that many issues that we have discussed in class are present in this article. How we label people and the implications of that label are extremely important to how someone gets punished for a crime. Then there is also the issue of rating a crime’s severity, but the age of the offender must also be considered while determining that. This article quotes Supreme Court justices, an assistant state attorney general, and lawyers who work for juvenile advocacy groups. This article if anything showed me that people will use the label minors to restrict rights and enforce rules of society under this guise of minors being “immature, impulsive, susceptible to peer pressure and able to change for the better over time,” but then punish them as full grown people without taking these same factors into consideration.
Andrew Conyers
I believe that the system has failed our youths. Society has resorted to taking a reactive step to curb child delinquency then prosecute them as an adult when it’s convenient for them. While the consequences for juveniles under eighteen may differ from state to state, the lives they lead and the limitations on their rights are similar. Therefore, it would be unjustified to uphold juveniles to the same consequences as adults who have the benefit of life experience, rights and privileges that have helped develop them into fully competent adults. Society fails to recognize that these young people may have a legitimate mental illness causing them to defy society’s idea of a young person’s behavior.
It is still a very complex and controversial issue of how to treat the worst of child offenders and even if it is worth the time and money to rehabilitate them. Many people argue that the community cannot be safe without putting all violent criminals behind bars. I agree there are some people that cannot be rehabilitated but when a minor is involved I believe they should at least be given to the chance to overcome their crimes. Many of these offenders may be able to overcome the abuse, neglect, or violence they have seen in their lives. Many of these kids can still be transformed into better citizens if they are given the proper opportunities and given better role models in their lives.