13 year old faces life imprisonment for murder of 9 year old
79I woke up early this morning and began reading my newspaper as usual. I checked my hub statistics, I had posted an article on life imprisonment for juveniles and was checking for the Supreme Court decision if it is cruel and inhumane.
On the second page in the headlines the headline caught my eye and my heart.
"13 year old faces life imprisonment if convicted of the murder of 9 year old" a beautiful 9 year old whose smiling face graced the article. The 13 year old also had her picture displayed, on her face was a look of disdain, disinterest, and totally without remorse. Why I asked myself before reading the article. Why would one child take the life of the precious little girl smiling at me?
From my visits to the article I had posted I think maybe society does not consider juvenile crime a problem, just stages they go through. From my experience as a correctional officer who has worked with juveniles, I know how cruel, cunning and heartless they can be.
I sighed and continued to read. "I choked her, stabbed her and cut her throat, I just wanted to know how it felt to kill someone" said the 13 year old. I had already dug the grave where I buried her.
The 13 year old was tried as an adult, in my opinion she should have been. Her blantant disregard for the life of the child she killed, her lack of remorse and the chance of future danger to society makes me think the punishment is necessary. It was a calculated and coldblooded, pre-meditated murder. The murder of an innocent child who had her whole life ahead of her.
When I read things like this I am divided and torn inside. But the one thing I have always wondered is what is happening to our children? What could possibly make one child want to kill another child? Why would a 13 year old want to know how it feels to kill? Has society become so depraved and indifferent that we do not notice what is happening with our children?
My eight year old son knows more about sex than I did in high school. He is computer savy, intelligent and curious. Sometimes he comes home and will shock me with what he has learned that day. I look at him and am afraid, I try to protect him, shield him, show him enough love to keep him safe.
I look again at the face of the 13 year old again. What happened? What changed this child into a vicious murderer and hardened her heart so much she can not even feel remorse for the beautiful child she so brutally killed.
Life imprisonment for juveniles? As a former corrections officer I wish I could agree that it is cruel and inhumane, but looking at the picture of innocence of the victim, in my heart I know it may be the only option.
How can we be sure if we release her at age 18 that she will not still harbor those same feelings? How do we know she will not kill again, if not punished sufficently for this crime. Maybe the next time it could be my child, or yours?
Life Imprisonment for juveniles? It seems harsh but due to the increasing violence of juveniles and the seemingly indifference of society, maybe it is the only alternative.
Growing up I was constantly supervised by my parents. I wasn't allowed to roam the streets, hang out with the wrong crowd or watch inappropiate tv shows. Today we have parental controls on tv's, we monitor our childs every movement. But what about the children from a single parent home where the parent has to work to provide for the family? The home where both parents work to make ends meet? Where does this leave the children?
Life inprisonment for juveniles? I am afraid we have reached a point where it has to be considered. As sad as it is our own children have become a danger to others and society.
Children or Criminals?
At what age do children understand the consequences of their actions? At what age should they be held responsible for their actions?
Depending on their upbring and parental involvement, I think it differs from child to child. A child who has no parental supervision will learn from the streets what is missing at home. But does this excuse his acts of violence, or make him any less responsible? Do I thinl Life Imprisonment for a teenager is cruel and unusal? NO!!
In the state of Texas, life means you are eligible for parole in 40 years, so if you are a teenager, you would still be young upon release and hopefully learned what you didn't at home. For every action there is a consequence, good or bad. I believe that by the time a child reaches the teen years he knows the difference between right and wrong.
If he takes a life, then maybe in the 40 years he will learn to appreciate what freedom means and that it is also a priviledge, one forefieted for the crime of murder. I do not believe that a slap on the wrist or probation is sufficent for the punishment , even a juvenile.
Having worked in the Dept. of Corrections I know how violent some teens can be. I am not saying rehabilitation is not possible but that maybe for serious crimes such as homocide it would give them time to think.
To prevent further danger to society it is sometimes necessary to sentence one to the maximum penalty allowed by law. I am not saying we should execute juveniles, only that they should not be given a light sentence for a major crime.
What is your opinion? Please leave fedback since I would like to do a study on this study on this more in depth.
Crap! You are a jerk! That 13 year old needs a counselor, not some silly prison sentence.
A 13 year old tried as an adult. WOW... I wonder what happened to this child to make them want to kill another human being. Your hubs are mind blowing! A huge reality check.
Bright Light,
While I appreciate that the girl is only 13, I also realize that there are children for whom incaceration for life is necessary. This is a truly sad but true fact in our society today. I worked in juvenile facilities for many years and ultimately resigned due to the abuses I wittnessed. But while there I also realized that the children of today are not the children of our generation who had respect for human life. And yes, if my son 8 years old killed another child I would support the sentence handed down. I believe that justice should be handed down fairly and consistently.
You condemn someone you never knew, and will never know. Thats very sad indeed, that you don't know someone yet will condemn them. Life in prison, only 40 years untill parole. Are you kidding me? 40 years in prison is like 4 lifetimes. Time goes by unbalievably slow in prison. Why don't you sit in a empty room for a whole day, with nothing. Not even with a clock or the time, see if you can do it.
God help you if your 8 year old son, killed someone. Would you condemn him for life. When they showed the kid killed in a picture smiling, looking happy. Then they showed your son in another picture. On his face was a look of disdain, disinterest, and totally without remorse. What did you think the News would show a good picture?
When you approach the stands, and beg for a lesser sentence. He's just a boy you might say, he's only 8. Life in prison with murders and rapist shouldn't be an option. The prosicution could ask you. Did you not support life in prison for pre adults? Did you not say that it was nesisary?
40 years later...
Your son gets out of prison, he's now 48 years old. He's spent 5/6ths of his life in prison. He has no education, no money, he doesn't even have a pair of shoes that fit. He has a criminal record, his chances at a decent job are gone. Hell he probably doesn't even know how to get a job anyway.
I hope that this won't leave your mind anytime soon. The parents of that 13 year old girl. Probably never imagined that she would kill someone. Now they will most likely never get to see her again, out side of prison walls. This could be you and your son.
You would be extremely lucky if I was in the jury of your case. I wouldn't stand for a kid to be locked up for life. No matter the evidence against someone, if the punishment is deemed unfair then you don't have to find the defendent guilty. You can find the defendent innocent.
If my son is ever in the position of the girl here. If you were in the jury, I pray to god you wouldn't let it stand either.
Bagamall,
Yeah I figured he was, but I see so many teens who have killed that it is frightening. In my neighborhood, in the past week, a 13 year ols killed a 15 year old, for nothing. A 15 year old killed his parents while they slept because they wouldn't let him have the car. Sometimes I think many of these children are so numb to violence that they are beyond rehabilitation and I see no other alternantive but life in prison.
Warmest regards,
Chris
He is being sarcastic Christal. He is saying we should spend more time helping the 13 year old and less time helping the adults. Probably money too.
Great American,
I have to ask you, because I respect your opinion, are you serious? Yes she should have therapy, in prison. Ansd I can not sy if it will take life or not but HASAN. I never expected that you would recommend letting him return to our society to live among us again... Please let me know if you ware joking or what?
regards, christal
What the hell, toss that 13 year old in jail for life, we have more important things to spend time on.
We need to find out what caused the Fort Hood Terrorist to go off his bonkers and kill 13 Americans. What did we do wrong? Why was this poor man persecuted if he was. We need answers in order to find out what we can do to help this poor soul and others like him. He needs to be helped not punished. In time he will be well again and should be allowed to live as a Free American.. That 13 year old should have known better, what kind of parents does he have.
Hasan comes from a good family, let's see what we can do to help him and return him to society!
christalluna1124 Hub Author 2 months ago
To everyone who has commented on this hub I thank you. We may not always agree but I appreciate your views and i do take them into account. as for the gentleman who called me a jerk, I agree the child needs counseling but I also think she should pay for the consequences of her actions. i do not know what brought her to this point but I do know that maybe with a period of incarceration she might get the help she needs. There are too many instances of children killing each other and their families to just say oh, shes a child and let it slide.
warmest regards,
chris