12 y/o Charged as Adult

[goldberry]

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2011/12/05/still-no-plea-deal-for-12-year-old-murder-suspect-in-florida/?intcmp=obinsite

 

Has this story been discussed here yet?

 

I'm just heartbroken over this story. The mom had the son when she herself was 12 years old. (My DD is 12). Another of her children is already being tried for murder.

 

What chance do any of those kids have? Our society is so ill equipped to deal with these dysfunctional family groups. People can see it coming from miles away but no one can do anything about it.

[stephanier.1765]

I go back and forth on this. On one hand, what he did is so horrendous that I'm not sure the juvenile system is enough of a punishment. On the other hand, if they put him in an adult prison they will never be able to let him out because he will be so damaged from being with those men that he will never adapt to outside life. No matter how you look at it, it's a very difficult situation for all the adults involved in making these decisions.

[Ottakee]

So sad, all around. THe mom is only 24-25 with a 12 year old and 3 younger ones. Now 1 is dead and one is in custody. Like you said, one of these situations where people around can see that something bad might happen but there is no way to prevent it.

 

I don't think that pushing a younger sibling into a bookcase should equal life in prison. Yes, something needs to be done but likely not life in prision starting at age 12.

 

So often parents will ask and ask for help (at least in our foster/adoptive care circles) but yet don't qualify as the child hasn't hurt someone yet or some other reason they don't qualify.

 

So sad all around.

[goldberry]

I go back and forth on this. On one hand, what he did is so horrendous that I'm not sure the juvenile system is enough of a punishment. On the other hand, if they put him in an adult prison they will never be able to let him out because he will be so damaged from being with those men that he will never adapt to outside life. No matter how you look at it, it's a very difficult situation for all the adults involved in making these decisions.

 

He may very well be someone who should never be in society (another article said he killed a kitten at 3). The heartbreak is how much of his family environment contributed to that, and how much of a chance he really had to be anything else.

[AimeeM]

My daughter is 10 1/2 and still believes she will one day receive a letter of acceptance from Hogwarts. Not odd for her age it seems, as many of her friends still believe in Santa. Her and her friends dream of being vets/famous singers/doctors/dog trainers - and, might I add, believe it is completely possible to be college educated AND practice in all of the aforementioned careers.

 

You can see why I have a huge problem charging a 12 year old as an adult for murder. A 12 year old isn't an adult. He isn't capable of thinking as an adult. There are reasons 12 year olds aren't allowed to vote, buy alcohol, or decide to quit school - they aren't developed enough to make those types of decisions with the forethought necessary to make GOOD decisions. If nothing else, they completely lack impulse control - especially if he hasn't been in a home where impulse control has been practiced and is available to emulate. They lack the ability to think ahead and consider long term consequences. The juvenile justice system is meant to rehabilitate, not to punish, young offenders. He pushed his younger brother. I fail to see how there was intent (based on what I've read) to kill his brother. Further, I don't think he is mentally capable at his age of understanding the potential long term consequences of his actions.

 

12 is hardly older than my own 10 year old, after all.

Edited December 7, 2011 by AimeeM