Why American Courtrooms Are Dangerous Places for Young Blacks

[LuvNewcastle]

1. I don't like seeing juveniles tried as adults, but there is a problem with

juveniles committing serious crimes because they 'know' they can't be treated as adults in the legal system. Armed robbery is a very serious crime, regardless of whether anyone was hurt or how much money was stolen. To me, the amount stolen is completely irrelevant. The legal system has to be firm with juveniles who do these types of things or they'll think they can get away with anything. But 15 years old is still too young to be treated as an adult.

I think that juveniles should be tried in a youth court, but there need to be new laws enacted that are tailored for the ones who commit the more serious crimes. I'd say that a fair sentence for a kid who does something really bad would be incarceration until they're 25 rather than 21. However, in the case cited in the article, I think incarceration until 21 would have been a fair sentence.

I also think these kids need to be schooled while they're locked up. They need to have some education to be able to get jobs after they're released. The system probably doesn't do that now because it would cost more money, but I think it would be a good investment and would probably save a lot of money in the long run. I'm sure the prison industry wouldn't like it, though. They make more money from repeat offenders.