Should minors be tried as adults for first degree murder?

Answer 1

Asking whether anything should be done is an opinion question and does not change what can or will happen. Depending on state laws and the judge, minors can be charged with 1st degree murder. In most cases, they're not, but the closer they get to 18, the more likely it is that they will be. Judges can also impose additional charges and restrictions even if the minor is not tried as an adult, such as ruling that the murder stay on the minor's record permanently.

CommentsYes, they should be. Why? Because even younger than 14 many children know in this generation that the law can't touch them and most likely will get a slap on the wrist (first offence) or house arrest at best. Murder by the young is rising in leaps and bounds and the justice system is giving them light sentences if any at all. What about the victim(s) and their family(s)? What about the police putting their lives in jeopardy every single day that arrest these children and before the ink is dry on the paper the children are walking down the front steps of the police station with smirks on their faces! As the quote goes, 'You do the crime, you pay the time.'

Children from a very young age know right from wrong and the old excuse of 'I was abused' to 'my parents hate me and so do my friends' is getting far too worn out an excuse as is 'psychological disorders.' Every adult criminal in prison on murder charges has psychological disorders! There are many children treated just as badly or worse that do not commit murder or even attempted murder and become good citizens.

In British Columbia, Canada society has had enough. We've watched as the police chased down young teens that murder; drive-by shootings (taking innocent victims along with the gang related shootings); children killing children and children killing parents; drag racing and killing pedestrians and they have absolutely no remorse. A case just was heard on our news a few weeks ago where three young teens (for no apparent reason ... and they admitted it was for kicks only) beat a young man so severely with Baseball bats and ended it with an ax in the back of his head and now he is a paraplegic for the rest of his life. All of that young victims hopes and dreams are gone. To many of us that is just as much murder as if that victim had died. The judge let the three teens off on 1 year house arrest, report to their parole officer weekly, etc., to the awe of spectators and the best mistake these teens made was laughing in the elevator because they got off and knew they would (tried as juveniles.) The last laugh was on them because it was picked up on tape and sent to the judge. If the judge wasn't going to do anything more about it he had no option, but to do so as it leaked out to the media. There was a social out cry from citizens and many would have loved to have finished the job off on these teens with their own baseball bats. The judge had no recourse, but to have a retrial and hopefully these three teen boys will get what they so deserve.

Adult prisons should have segregated areas from prisoners who are minors, but the minors get the same treatment and follow the same rules. They need psychological counseling and to continue their education, but serve their time as an adult! Like wildfire the word would get around that if you get caught for attempted murder to murder or kill someone with your vehicle by your own stupidity that you will pay the time in prison! I bet it would take a year or less and you'd see the crime rate drop by a large percentage.

Also the old excuse of 'it's a fact prisons do nothing for the criminal' and the criminal system doesn't work is partially right. The prison system needs to be changed! There are far too many liberties in prisons (TV, computers, etc,) although there is nothing wrong with continuing your education. Clifford Olsen that killed many children during the late 1960's to the mid 1970's was finally caught and is in a segregated part of the prison serving a life sentence. He has access to the computer and to make phone calls and just recently I read where he is still stalking and mocking the families of his victims and explaining how he killed their children. Now one would ask how this is possible. Gee, if you're given access to an unmonitored computer (as proven) and you can make phone calls and have outside help to find the phone numbers of the victim's families then it's possible. Where is the Warden? Where are the employees of that prison to monitor all letters leaving and entering that prison and why aren't the phone conversation monitored? Prisons need to be cleaned up of Wardens not doing their job trickling down to unsavory guards doing favors for the prisoners. Not ALL Wardens or guards are like this, but there is at least one rotten apple in the bunch and that's all it takes. Reconstruct the inside of the prisons so young offenders are safe, get psychological help and get an education. Never mind the TV's and unmonitored computers. Access to libraries is permissible.

If the parents of these children were around to bring them up properly and be aware of where their children are and see their mood changes and be on top of it and get them the help they may need then SOME of these teens would be saved from committing further crimes such as assault/battery to murder.

It's time to stop being bleeding hearts and that should be reserved for the victims!

Here is a quote I just heard tonight and I think it hits the nail on the head:

'It is easier to build strong children then to repair broken men!'

I believe that it should be a law I know from former friends that they have done some pretty stupid stuff that put other peoples lives in danger. I think that they should be tried as adults on half of the stuff they do. I also believe that any minor should be tried as an adult if that minor commits murder. If our Legal System does not punish them like a adult that is just going to show them that there actions are ok and that they are free to do it again.

Answer 2

Calls for an opinion. I believe they should make that call on a case by case basis, with no hard and fast requirement to either way.

Answer 3

In my opinion no.