Supremes Consider Life-Long Imprisonment of Minors

Saturday, November 07, 2009

On Monday, the Supreme Court will hear a case to decide whether the Eighth Amendment's prohibition against "cruel and unusual punishment" precludes life sentences without parole for juvenile offenders who have not committed capital crimes.

Posted by rcade at 06:11 PM | 24 COMMENTS | permalink | Comment on This Entry

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rcade

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Admin's note: Participants in the discussion of this weblog entry should note the site's moderation policy.

As sick as Americans have become concerning crime and punishment, I'm sure some judge will find a way to profit on the plan.

#1 | Posted by RingMaster at 2009-11-07 06:42 PM | Reply | Flag:

I am totally against Minors being locked up for life. I am sorry but we should rehabilitate these kids intyo maybe becoming something worthwhile someday. You discard a child You discard Yourself.

Larry

#2 | Posted by LarryMohr at 2009-11-07 06:47 PM | Reply | Flag:

In a five to four decision, the court will find nothing cruel nor unusual in imprisoning children for life, even when they have not been convicted of a capital crime. Roberts will write the opinion.

#3 | Posted by Hagbard_Celine at 2009-11-07 07:36 PM | Reply | Flag:

I always thought most kids should be locked up until they're 18 anyway.

Little parasites.

#4 | Posted by briwo at 2009-11-07 07:42 PM | Reply | Flag:

For the most henious of crimes (a punk who tortures and murders for example), anything sort of death is immoral.

#5 | Posted by USAF242 at 2009-11-07 08:01 PM | Reply | Flag:

....HOW MANY ARE IN FAVOUR OF "Life-Long Imprisonment" for...WAR CRIMINALS like Clinton,Bush,Cheney,Kissinger and their "Aiders & Abettors" which includes all the members of the US Supreme Court!!!

#6 | Posted by AntiCadillac at 2009-11-07 08:03 PM | Reply | Flag:

The majority of these minors serving life without the possibility of parole shouldn't be as they're not entirely unpromising candidates for rehabilitation. But some DO deserve life without parole so I hope the Supreme Court leaves that option (without parole) open to the states.

#7 | Posted by Gimme_a_Scotch at 2009-11-07 08:20 PM | Reply | Flag:

You discard a child You discard Yourself.

Larry

#2 | Posted by LarryMohr

Bullshit. Some of this pychopathic scum needs to be destroyed because they're not fit to live in a civilized society. But since we can't destroy them, we need to lock them up for life so they can't harm anyone else.

#8 | Posted by Redman at 2009-11-07 08:41 PM | Reply | Flag:

Since kids are our future when we throw the so called bad seeds away we have thrown ourselves away. It doesn't get much plainer than that.

Larry

#9 | Posted by LarryMohr at 2009-11-07 09:12 PM | Reply | Flag:

Only if you're producing bad seeds.

#10 | Posted by Redman at 2009-11-07 09:23 PM | Reply | Flag:

If minors are prosecuted as adults then the appropriate sentencing guidelines should apply. There are some human beings, albeit a very small percentage of the population, that are damaged and can never be fixed. Prison is not a place for rehabilitation; it is a place to serve a sentence of punishment.

#11 | Posted by UpL8 at 2009-11-07 09:31 PM | Reply | Flag:

Implicit in the category "minor" is their inability to understand right from wrong. This deficeincy is highly age dependent in the very young, but otherwise varies wildly well into adulthood. If there is no such thing as free will, which is very likely, punishment is primitive and pointless, except to protect the public from repeat offemders.

#12 | Posted by nutcase at 2009-11-07 10:32 PM | Reply | Flag:

#2----"you discard a child you discard yourself"---Lar, first of all, I don't know what the heck that statement means. Secondly, a minor that's a sociopath or psychopath is not redeemable or rehabitable.

#13 | Posted by matsop at 2009-11-07 11:10 PM | Reply | Flag:

To: Husseinster

Please implement the following policy asap:

ages 0-8, Release to custody of parent if appropriate or foster care or juvenile detention to age 18 if crime warrants.

ages 8-11, Eligible for life imprisonment if crime warrants, not eligible for death penalty or 3 strikes and you are dead.

ages 12 and up, eligible for life in prison, eligible for death penalty, eligible for *3 strikes and you are dead.

* three strikes and you are dead will be implemented after 3 VIOLENT felonies.

These young creeps do not need any more encouragement to commit MORE violence.

#14 | Posted by tickyul at 2009-11-07 11:21 PM | Reply | Flag:

...precludes life sentences without parole for juvenile offenders who have not committed capital crimes.

Once again, those who are least likely to extend a helping hand to the young kids in trouble are the same dopes that can't read the frickin' article.

Will their ignorance ever cease?

#15 | Posted by RingMaster at 2009-11-08 02:19 AM | Reply | Flag:

I had an English teacher in high school. While in a pawn shop in Amarillo, two thugs came in and robbed the place. Mr. Carter was shot in the head and killed by a 17 yr old that was a few weeks from being 18. He was sentenced to death. The Supreme Court ruled a few years later (Justice Kennedy argument was that the Europeans did not like this) that a minor could not receive the death penalty. The thug was then moved to life without parole. If he was 2 months older he would have been dead right now. He knew what he was doing and did not care about a human life. I pray that Justice Kennedy will base his discussion on the Constitution and not how people in Greenland or some other country feel. Mr. Carter's Family, and all who lost a great teacher anda good friend Deserves better.

#16 | Posted by stpasdf2000 at 2009-11-08 11:13 AM | Reply | Flag:

This article is about life imprisonment of minors who have not committed capital offenses. Not one poster here on either side of the debate addresses that point.

#17 | Posted by Hagbard_Celine at 2009-11-08 11:24 AM | Reply | Flag:

Either you are a minor or an adult. Choosing to say a minor will be prosecuted as an adult is gaming the system, which is why the SCOTUS is reviewing this farce in the first place.

#18 | Posted by Newyawker at 2009-11-08 11:48 AM | Reply | Flag:

Not one poster here on either side of the debate addresses that point.

Go back and read #15

#19 | Posted by RingMaster at 2009-11-08 07:24 PM | Reply | Flag:

- ages 8-11, Eligible for life imprisonment if crime warrants, not eligible for death penalty or 3 strikes and you are dead.
- ages 12 and up, eligible for life in prison, eligible for death penalty, eligible for *3 strikes and you are dead.
#14 | Posted by tickyul

8 years old life in prison, death penalty for 12?

Better idea. Impose the death penalty on yourself, the sooner the better...

#20 | Posted by Newyawker at 2009-11-08 07:28 PM | Reply | Flag:

The article is not about trying children as adults.

It is about life imprisonment for henious crimes. Life does not go far enough. Minor or not, the most extreme henious crimes warrent only death. Anything else is immoral.

#21 | Posted by USAF242 at 2009-11-09 12:07 AM | Reply | Flag:

"life imprisonment for henious crimes"

It's chicken or egg, here.

#22 | Posted by LetUsPrey at 2009-11-09 12:44 AM | Reply | Flag:

#8 | Posted by Redman

amazingly stupid and cruel..

#23 | Posted by Legio at 2009-11-09 01:36 AM | Reply | Flag:

This article is about life imprisonment of minors who have not committed capital offenses. Not one poster here on either side of the debate addresses that point.

#17 | Posted by Hagbard_Celine

I did address the subject of the article as the sentencing should be dependent upon the guidelines. If tried as an adult then a minor should receive the sentence as supported by the guidelines. If the minor is tried as an adult then the judge presiding should ignore the fact of the child's chronological age and make the sentence appropriate for the crime and its degree. If a minor is tried as an adult and found guilty and the sentencing guidelines allow for a life sentence and that sentence is warranted and then imposed then, technically, it is not a minor serving a life sentence but rather an adult serving a life sentence.

#24 | Posted by UpL8 at 2009-11-09 11:08 AM | Reply | Flag: