Life in prison for juveniles-- cruel and unusual?

[mattkime]

>>What a load of crap. [www.nytimes.com]

did you read the article?

[mattkime]

Which ones ? I'm not arguing, just seeking information. The diverse nature of our society may mitigate societal-based controls on behaviour, and may be a proximate cause of the higher level of criminality than more homogeneous societies.
Incarceration rates are far higher in the US than almost anywhere else in the country.



>>The diverse nature of our society may mitigate societal-based controls

i'm not sure if that excuse is still valid.

[cbelt3]

mattkime wrote:
>>The diverse nature of our society may mitigate societal-based controls
i'm not sure if that excuse is still valid.

It's not an 'excuse', just an observation. Typically the 'other countries' that are compared favorably against the US are highly homogeneous nations with a strong cultural bias towards control and a lack of criminality. Nations with a high immigrant population in most cases, relate more to immigration as part of a special relationship with an ex-colony... UK and Hong Kong, France and Algeria, etc. And these nations are seeing problems in their underemployed immigrant populations.

The root cause, of course, is economic. Underemployment, a perceived lack of opportunity, educational limitations, all play a part on encouraging criminality in the non-psychopaths. The psychopaths, of course, need only a trigger.

[RgrF]

None of that explains why we feel a need to imprison a higher percentage of our population than any other first world country.

[Pops]

Gutenberg wrote:
It depends on the crime.

No, it depends on how you or I or anyone else feels about the crime. That's not the same as "the crime".

[Gutenberg]

I don't understand that statement. When you get right down to it it depends on how the jury and judge feel about the crime. I have never sentenced anyone, let alone a juvenile, in my life.

[Black]

mattkime wrote:
Incarceration rates are far higher in the US than almost anywhere else in the country.

If I didn't respect you so much this would be my new sig :-)

[Racer X]

Acer wrote:
In principle, life without parole seems excessive for a juvenile. I've heard of research that says there is a period in which the developing brain does not think actions through the way an adult does...and this condition lasts into the early 20s. So it's an issue of chemistry that in theory can resolve itself.

roughly 25 years, give or take a few. Its why you can't vote until 18, or buy a handgun until 21.

[mattkime]

ooph, i guess i have to stand that down.

damn you, thing i meant to say but totally f$%#^ed up!

[michaelb]

I don't think it is cruel and unusual, so don't think it is prohibited by the constitution. I think it is a bad social policy, and that State's should decide not to do it as part of their political process. I will be shocked if the Supremes strike it down (particularly given that they have allowed the death penalty for juveniles, which I think should be prohibited).