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DPChallenge Forums >> Rant >> Would death have been a better punishment?
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 11/15/2007 09:20:52 PM · #1
15 year old given 60 year sentence

Video of story

Very mixed feelings on this one. You have to think of the victim, but I think the death penalty might have served justice more for this case.
 11/15/2007 09:40:43 PM · #2
So you'd like to see a 15-year-old child strapped to a gurney? Interesting.
 11/15/2007 09:48:11 PM · #3
No I think the death penalty would be an easy exit. Far better to let him enjoy half a century of getting beaten and raped in prison.
 11/15/2007 09:50:37 PM · #4
I think the death penalty would not have been as severe. I do not know how you made the leap to conclude that I would like seeing a child die. Am I to conclude from your statement that you enjoy seeing children spend their entire lives in prison? I hope not.
 11/15/2007 09:55:16 PM · #5
Originally posted by routerguy666:
No I think the death penalty would be an easy exit. Far better to let him enjoy half a century of getting beaten and raped in prison.


The kid will have to join a gang very quickly for his own protection. From that time on, he's owned.
 11/15/2007 09:55:44 PM · #6
Originally posted by garrywhite2:
I think the death penalty would not have been as severe. I do not know how you made the leap to conclude that I would like seeing a child die. Am I to conclude from your statement that you enjoy seeing children spend their entire lives in prison? I hope not.

Absolutely not. It sounds like a tough case. (I misunderstood your original point)

At least with a prison sentence he stands some chance of having his sentence reviewed at a later date. However, I don't fully understand why the Judge rejected the defence attorney's suggestion of a juvenile offender program.
 11/15/2007 10:02:02 PM · #7
Originally posted by jhonan:
However, I don't fully understand why the Judge rejected the defence attorney's suggestion of a juvenile offender program.


Because those programs turn the juveniles around and back onto the streets in a matter of a couple-few years? Because the crime is so heinous the judge doesn't want to see that happen?

R.
 11/15/2007 10:03:22 PM · #8
Originally posted by Bear_Music:
Originally posted by jhonan:
However, I don't fully understand why the Judge rejected the defence attorney's suggestion of a juvenile offender program.


Because those programs turn the juveniles around and back onto the streets in a matter of a couple-few years? Because the crime is so heinous the judge doesn't want to see that happen?

R.


I'm sure the reported lack of remorse on the defendant's part was a large factor, too.

~Terry
 11/15/2007 10:08:12 PM · #9
Yes and you really have to give thought to the pain and suffering the victim has to endure for the rest of her life.
 11/15/2007 10:08:50 PM · #10
Originally posted by ClubJuggle:
I'm sure the reported lack of remorse on the defendant's part was a large factor, too.

~Terry

The offence was a terrible one. But he commited it when he was 13, and stood trial at 15. Given he might not be the brightest child, do you really think he even understands the concepts of responsibility and remorse?

Sounds to me like he was still denying he did anything wrong and was trying to blame the girl for it all. Sounds like he didn't fully understand the gravity of the situation, especially given his muted reaction when he was sentenced to 60 years.
11/15/2007 10:17:36 PM · #11
In fact (and not to diminish the seriousness of his crime) in my opinion sending a 15-year-old boy to an adult prison falls under the category of a cruel and unusual punishment. It's certainly unusual, as he's the youngest inmate, and given his fate at the hands of the other prisoners it's certainly cruel.
 11/15/2007 10:19:05 PM · #12
Originally posted by jhonan:
In fact (and not to diminish the seriousness of his crime) in my opinion sending a 15-year-old boy to an adult prison falls under the category of a cruel and unusual punishment. It's certainly unusual, as he's the youngest inmate, and given his fate at the hands of the other prisoners it's certainly cruel.


He'll probably be put in solitary for his own protection. As a child molester the rest of the prison population could probably kill him.
 11/15/2007 10:37:55 PM · #13
Originally posted by jhonan:
The offence was a terrible one. But he commited it when he was 13, and stood trial at 15. Given he might not be the brightest child, do you really think he even understands the concepts of responsibility and remorse?

Sounds to me like he was still denying he did anything wrong and was trying to blame the girl for it all. Sounds like he didn't fully understand the gravity of the situation, especially given his muted reaction when he was sentenced to 60 years.


Yes, I do believe that a 13-year old understands the concept of responsibility and remorse.

The girl he attacked had half her ear torn off, skull fractures, a lacerated liver - and that's not even beginning to name the injuries she would have recieved during a sexual attack.

Cruel and unusual is what happened to that 6-year old girl.

11/15/2007 10:53:12 PM · #14
Originally posted by kashi:
Yes, I do believe that a 13-year old understands the concept of responsibility and remorse.


So a 13-year-old who's capable of inflicting these sorts of injuries on another human being can understand remorse? It sounds more like the behaviour of a psychopath than a person capable of taking responsibilities for their actions.
 11/15/2007 11:00:03 PM · #15
Just because someone can UNDERSTAND the concepts of responsibility and remorse does not equate with having them or using them.
11/15/2007 11:28:45 PM · #16
Originally posted by jhonan:
Originally posted by kashi:
Yes, I do believe that a 13-year old understands the concept of responsibility and remorse.


So a 13-year-old who's capable of inflicting these sorts of injuries on another human being can understand remorse? It sounds more like the behaviour of a psychopath than a person capable of taking responsibilities for their actions.


Either way, such a person does not belong in society.
 11/15/2007 11:58:32 PM · #17
Originally posted by jhonan:
In fact (and not to diminish the seriousness of his crime) in my opinion sending a 15-year-old boy to an adult prison falls under the category of a cruel and unusual punishment. It's certainly unusual, as he's the youngest inmate, and given his fate at the hands of the other prisoners it's certainly cruel.


What is your idea of justice, exactly?
 11/16/2007 12:49:49 AM · #18
I was going over a report where they were showing interviews of children who've commited heinous crimes and that was perhaps the scariest thing I've ever seen. Absolutely no sense of remorse.. no emotions.. nothing.. their eyes were blank.

I doubt this kid will ever feel sorry for his actions. Maybe in years to come he'll feel grief for his own imprisionment.. In prision this kid will probably gain more exposure and evolve/expand his kinks..60 years is a long time for people to forget the horror of his crime and people have made amazing mistakes regarding sex offenders.. If he comes out for good behaviour or something... it wouldn't be pleasant..

typo

Message edited by author 2007-11-16 00:51:35.
 11/16/2007 09:30:53 AM · #19
I'm sorry, but as a journalist, I can't get past this atrocious first sentence:

"A judge sentenced to 60 years in prison this morning a teenager who had..."

11/16/2007 09:38:17 AM · #20
I don't know, I feel like the ruling was maybe a mistake. Granted it was a horrible crime, but he might be very impressionable in prison. I don't know that other inmates will want to hurt him necessarily, they might look to mentor him or something, take him under their collective wing.

(Ha! Jail bird; wing, get it? Oh boy... accidental puns...)
 11/16/2007 10:07:33 AM · #21
Yeah he might turn into a bad guy...
 11/16/2007 10:10:55 AM · #22
dang, that is just a sad, sad story all the way around. i don't like the death penalty, but it would have been an easier way out for him. :(

i don't know that there is a good answer to this. even at 13 (or15, now) a lack of remorse is scary. young or not, he is definitely old enough to know what he did was wrong, even if "she started it" (I don't know that she did, but even if she did. . . .). unless there is some developmental disabilities involved, which makes it a whole 'nuther ball of wax.
 11/16/2007 10:20:46 AM · #23
Originally posted by karmat:
dang, that is just a sad, sad story all the way around. i don't like the death penalty, but it would have been an easier way out for him. :(

i don't know that there is a good answer to this. even at 13 (or15, now) a lack of remorse is scary. young or not, he is definitely old enough to know what he did was wrong, even if "she started it" (I don't know that she did, but even if she did. . . .). unless there is some developmental disabilities involved, which makes it a whole 'nuther ball of wax.


I feel like there have to be some disabilities or at least bery bad psychological problems he should get help for.
 12/04/2007 10:33:51 AM · #24
For me, this raises larger questions for a society to address. Is the death penalty ever justified, if so when? Is prison's purpose to re-habilitate; punish; contain evil from the general population; or all 3? Can "cost" be used as a determinate to terminate a life? Is society better off with an encouraged abortion practice - (meaning terminate pregancies of high risk children)? What is societies responsibility towards the uneducated/disenfranchised versus the person's/parents responsibility to become educated and a participating member of the society?

What are the elements that most often lead to criminal acts? If a person will be submersed in an enviornment most likely to produce violent criminal actions, should society terminate the life before a victim is realized? If not, why not?

It strikes me that many will find these questions apalling. If so, then what responsibility do you have to insure that enviornments most likely to breed violent criminals do not exist and how much are YOU willing to pay (as in taxes) to insure it doesn't? How much money can be given to those disenfranchised to bring them out of the "at risk" enviornment, so as to eliminate violent criminals?

These are my thoughts when a 13 year old commits a heineous crime and will be incarcerated at the tax payers expense for essentially his entire adult life. To what end? Is there any redeaming value to society for the continued life of this criminal? Perhaps if he were to write/teach/mentor other troubled teens. If not, then I question the value of incarceration.

Hopefully, in this instant case, he will have an "awakening" and benefit society in some measure.

edit to correct sentence meaning

Message edited by author 2007-12-04 10:39:04.
 12/04/2007 10:49:19 AM · #25
The sentence seems right to me. It's harsh, and most of his life is being taken from him, but the streets are safer, the punishment seems appropriate to the crime, and it sends a message to parents and teens alike ... actions like this will not be tolerated at any age.
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