Young Offenders Locked Up for Life

Sasha Mora
Social Control
# 8

Young Offenders Locked Up for Life

This article was found in the New York Times. It is an example given by the editors where both sides are argue their point of view. The two examples discuss a 17 year old, Terrance Graham, that was sentenced to life in prison after a home invasion robbery and Joe Sullivan, a thirteen year old boy who was sentenced to like in prison for rape. The first editor argues that the United States is the only nation with individuals serving life sentences and the United states has over 1,700 people serving sentences without parole for crimes that they committed when they were juveniles. He argues that children do not have the mentality to properly assess what they are doing and maintain control. He also states that they are capable for change. For instance in the example of Joe Sullivan at the age of thirty three he became confined to a wheel chair due to multiple sclerosis. The question is then whether the court should take into consideration if these two individuals are really still a threat to society. The second editor argues that the two individuals may have strong sentences from a very young age, but that they were deserving. He gives more information on the two convicted in his argument. He states that Sullivan had 17 crimes previous to the one that he was given life in prison. All of these crimes were dangerous as well and threatened society. He agrees that the sentences of the two is harsh and irregular, but that these two cases were irregular and these two individuals were a serious threat to society. This article relates to social control because it discuses punishment and argues the extent at which punishment is given. This is a very controversial topic because on paper this seems unjust however, if the crime was committed to someone familiar many would then change their opinions.


http://roomfordebate.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/11/08/young-offenders-locked-up-for-life/?scp=2&sq=juvenile%20punishment&st=cse