To: Next_Time_NJ
Killing a 15 year old child is not my idea of just punishment reguardless of what they have done. I have no problem with them sitting in jail for a long time though. I am infavor of the death penality but not for young children.
A couple of points: While it is fine to sentence a youth to life in prison,
1) some future do-gooder elected officials/justices could easily overturn such sentences, thus freeing many known killers. This even happens now.
2) many states have laws that prohibit a youth from being detained past the 'age of accountability', usually 18. So, no matter how heinous a crime, that youth could go free at age 18, rather than being transferred to an adult prison. Think of having John Malvo freed when he reaches age 18. Oh, I think he already has; so, maybe he should just go free???
138 posted on
03/01/2005 7:46:32 AM PST by
TomGuy
(America: Best friend or worst enemy. Choose wisely.)
To: TomGuy
This Supreme Court ruling doesn't say anything else about existing laws for detaining criminals past age 18. In fact, given the 5-4 split on this decision, I'm pretty sure SCOTUS has turned down and will turn down in the future any appeal that seeks to "wipe the slate clean" for all underage criminals.
I sense a reductio ad absurdum that does not apply. This case is about the death penalty for underage crimes, full stop. Anything more would be its own case.
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