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Arlayna Deese

Mrs. DeBock

English 4 Honors

February 23, 2017

Essential Question: Should age matter when a juvenile is being tried for a crime they committed?

Working Thesis: If a juvenile is capable of committing a heinous crime then they should be tried

as an adult no matter their age.

Refined Thesis: Juveniles who commit heinous crimes should be tried as an adult and be held

accountable for their actions.

Annotated Bibliography

Newton, Heather "In Some Situations, Teens Should Be Tried as Adults." Points of View

Reference

Center Italicize, 1 Mar. 2016. Web. 22 Feb. 2017.

In this article the author, Heather Newton, states his opinion on how teens should be held

responsible for their actions and in some instances should be tried as an adult for the crimes they

are presumed guilty for. In one instance Christopher Simmons, the age of seventeen, was a junior

in high school. He had convinced two of his friends to break into a house, stage a robbery, tie

them up and then throw them off a bridge. Simmons and his accomplice believed since they were

under the age of eighteen they would not be tired as an adult and get away with the crime.

Untimely, Simmons was sentenced to death after the jury considered the factors especially his

age. Newtons article will provide a real life example of how heinous and violent crimes that are

carried out by juveniles can be tried as adults.


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Makar, Scott D. "Does Sentencing a 13-year-old Offender to Life Without Parole Constitute

"Cruel and Unusual Punishment"?" Points of View Reference CenterItalicize, 14 Sept.

2009. Web. 22 Feb. 2017.

Scott Makars article tells a real life story about Joe Sullivan, who was convicted

of rape and robbery of a 72-year-old woman. At just thirteen years old Sullivan was sentenced to

life in prison without parole. He challenged the court saying his sentence violates the eighth

amendment, cruel and unusual punishment. The repeal for his conviction was denied resulting in

a great deal of controversy regarding the courts decision. There have been many other cases

similar to Sullivans in which juvenile offenders were given a life sentence and charged as an

adult for their heinous crimes. Young adults that commit a certain crime like sexual assault and

murder should be tried as an adult disregarding their age. Markars claims in this article will

support how sentencing a juvenile to life without parole is not a violation of their rights.

Backstrom, James C. "The Criminal Justice System Should Treat Some Juveniles as Adults."

Opposing Viewpoints in Context, 27 Oct. 2008. Web. 22 Feb. 2017.

In this article the author, James Backstrom, shares his opinion on how juveniles should be

rightfully convicted for violent crimes they are found guilty of. Being able to prosecute an

adolescent for a violent crime as an adult is what Backstrom believes is best for public safety and

holds the juvenile responsible for his or hers actions. There are very few cases in which young

teens are prosecuted as an adult, but for more serious and violent offenses they should face

harsher consequences for their actions. Prosecutors take into consideration age, maturity and

previous crimes dealing with juvenile cases. The author states that he feels teens know right from
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wrong and should be held accountable for their actions. This article supports my position that

youth should be held responsible for their wrongful doings and be tried as an adult if necessary

Murphy, Wendy. "The Severity of Juvenile Crime Is Increasing." Opposing Viewpoints in

Context, 19 Aug. 2009. Web. 22 Feb. 2017.

Wendy Murphys article is a viewpoint on how she believes juvenile convictions should

be handled. Convictions should be rooted in facts not a stereotypical belief that a sweet-faced

15-year-old is not capable of killing another human being. Many people have a soft spot for

younger children who commit crimes and are more likely to blame their actions on bad

parenting. But, a soft spot is not the same thing as a pass. When kids commit a crime they do not

need the legal system to act like their actions are no big deal. In multiple states life without

parole is set as the maximum punishment for a juvenile offender. Life without parole is

appropriate in cases for adolescents who know exactly what they did wrong. Murphy states

teens should do adult time for adult crimes and not be overlooked simply because of their age.

Murphys article supports my view on how youth should be punished based on their actions not

how society views them as innocent of committing a violent crime.

Collier, Linda J. "More Teenage Criminals Should Be Tried as Adults." Opposing Viewpoints in

Context, 29 Mar. 1998. Web. 22 Feb. 2017.

In this article the author, Linda Collier, expresses her judgement on children who

knowingly engage in adult conduct and adult crimes should automatically be subject to adult

rules and adult prison time. Violent crimes committed by teens are rising and many view

offenders under eighteen are to be treated not punished. Juveniles are now more likely to be
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perpetrators of serious and deadly crimes like assault, rape and murder. Courts are regarding

felons as children first and criminals second. Collier says the juvenile court system needs to be

revamped and establish a uniform minimum age for trying juveniles as adults. This article

supports my thesis that youth should be held accountable for their actions if it is a serious and

violent crime.

Backstrom, James C. "Tough Juvenile Justice Policies Reduce Crime by Holding Juveniles

Accountable." Opposing Viewpoints in Context, 31 Dec. 2007. Web. 23 Feb. 2017.

James Backstroms article states youth violence programs are protecting public safety by

holding juveniles accountable. Juvenile codes have not been overly harsh, but instead beneficial

to public safety by holding youth accountable for their crimes and rehabilitating offenders. In

certain places, like Jacksonville, Florida, there are programs for juvenile incarceration that

focuses on education and rehabilitation. Courts, prosecutors and judges believe in fairness and

enforcing juvenile codes. Prosecutors and judges from all over the country have taken factors

including age, maturity, severity of the crime and threat to public safety into consideration when

sentencing a minor. These factors are properly weighed in the decision process and as a result

Americas juvenile justice system is balanced and not in need of reform. Backstroms article will

provide how the justice system deals with juvenile convictions and what factors they take into

consideration.

Stimson, Charles D., and Andrew M. Grossman. "Life Without Parole in the Adult System Is

Reasonable for Some Juvenile Offenders." Opposing Viewpoints, 2010. Web. 8 Mar. 2017.

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