Wednesday, March 23, 2011

Issue Explanation

The definition of justice is fair treatment for all people in the distribution of the benefits and burdens of society, the correction of wrongs and injuries, and the gathering of information and making of decisions. But does fair treatment mean equal treatment for all as well? Is is fair to give equal treatment and punishment to adults and minors in the court of law? Many people think that the punishments should be equal. A lot of people believe that if a minor commits murder then murder is murder and that someone who commits that kind of crime should definitely be sentenced to lifetime imprisonment. Others have a completely different view on this issue, some believe that minors brains are not fully mature so they are emotionally different from adults, this effects the process of decision making. A process in which could have prevented pursuing the crime if their brain was matured. And some believe it is just wrong to take away a life of a juvenile for the crime they committed as a child.Currently, the law states that juveniles cannot be sentenced to death penalty but if the crime committed involves homicide then a juvenile can be sentenced to life imprisonment without parole.This is a controversial issue because its hard to draw the line at certain ages when every case has different circumstances and when fairly executed punishments turn into cruel and unusual penalties. Who has the authority to decide where the line must be drawn when that line can and will effect the lives of thousands of juveniles across the country? 

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