Is it barbaric to sentence a child to spend the rest of his life in prison?

Sexxy Angel

No I do not think it is barbaric? My sons father was murdered by a 14 year old for 200.00 A robbery. And they only gave him 4 years now he is out of prison and it seems like he is back to his old ways. I feel if you do the crime as an adult you should do the time.

citta_uk

Its a rather difficult question to answer. Depedant on the crime committed. Look at Myra Hindley and many others. How can you know what will happen if a child murderer is set free will they do it again? Or will they have learn't from the time spent in jail?
I have met a child killer and he seemed just like a normal little lad of 14 who was very scared being locked up. I couldn't see the killer in him at all and felt so sorry for him. Yes he committed a terrible act with his friend killing a small boy, but seeing how scared he was made me wonder if he had full realisation of what he had done.
We do many things as children that we regret and learn from. So who knows do you continue to pay the price of your youth?

Mark L

IMHO, the really question is why these kids commited these crimes. Sociality is a reflection of it's criminals, so if someone under the voting/jury age commits a crime then yes they should have a chance of redemption. Of course they could be judge by their peers, a 15 year old defentant has a jury of 15 year olds.

Back to my first point, we need to start understanding why these kids are doing these crimes and make the change there.

Mephistopheles

Depends what the little s*d has done!!! - If the crime is serious enough to warrant life in prison then yes sobeit.

Whilst on the same subject, does any-one else agree with me, (in the UK) that if some-one is convicted of Murder and subsequently given a life sentence by the presiding judge - then life should mean just that without parole.

Dave T

You have to allow for the change of rehabilitation. But you also have to provide good rehabilitation programs and communicate effectively with the victims of the crime.

Two things that we are not doing at the moment.

gypsywife2b

At 15 years old we are all aware of the consequences for our actions especially those of a criminal nature. If teenagers are commiting heinous crimes then they should atleast do a large amount of time only to be released when they have undergone a form of rehabilitation. I have worked in corrections and understand that rehabilitation doesn't work for all criminals but it is atleast worth trying as opposed to giving them a slap on the wrists and letting them go...what lesson would that be teaching them?

megajen2000

No I don't if they are old enough to do the crime then they should pay the time.

deadly

Depends on the crime.

Christine H

There is a famous author of crime novels, who, when she was girl, murdered her friend's mother. She is probably the only person I know who can give us a telling answer as to whether redemption is possible. For my part I would like to believe that most people could pay the price and move on, be they youngsters, young adults or adults.
I have had the dubious pleasure of teaching a couple of young sociopaths and I am well aware that some people are unreachable; but surely not all.

GRUMPY

I would have know the EXACT crime this so called kid did. And I would also need to know EXACTLY why he did what he did. AND NO, I don't want him to just answer why he did what he did because he'll tell you almost anything. I would only except his answer if he was answering the question/s under the TRUTH SERUM. If this kid could give an exceptional answer then I might say less than life BUT He would still spend some time in jail. And if he is getting a TRUE LIFE TERM then why not just put him down. WHY should WE the TAQX payer support this murderer. or rapist, or this sicko depending on what his problem is.

derrynme

Not if s/he is a psychopath in the making and yes you can tell in the early stages

macdyver60

I knew it was wrong to take a life as a child, So did they Lock them up lose the key!

lawtech

As they said in Beretta, if you can't do the time then don't do the crime (don't do it). Maybe the parents should be put away?

monkeyface

Depends what the crime was.

ilasun

yes

sixmilliondollarguy

No. Look at the Bulger killers, they have been given jobs at Â£20k upon reaching 18, "to keep them out of trouble". Liberalisms such as this are the reason society is breaking down.

fathead

True. We are not the same as when we were 15. However, if a 15-year-old has already lost enough soul to commit horrific crimes, then for the good of society they should be removed from it.

Should it be assumed from your name that you are in favor of the death penalty instead?

foo_fighters_fan_2002

No i dont think its barabaric, but im not sure that its the answer. Let them serve the same amount of time as an adult (which is what i've always thought) During that time to pay their keep they should do jobs like cleaning roads and stuff which need doing but nobody in their right mind would want to do it. Obviously they would have their passports taken away and they would be tagged. But unfortunately some of the ****s that do these things at a young age dont mature with age.

Chris cc

Very barbaric, they should remain there until they become a safe person. But the cost? Maybe that should be born by society (as it is), which should somehow bring a stop to it (but it doesn't).

sandra b

before i can answer this question, i think you should also consider the families of the victims, and how aware was the perpetrator of what they were doing at the time? and i disagree ,i think we are basically the same people at fifteen as we are at a hundred and fifty ! we have absorbed more , but our psyche is already formed

lis

Even at a very early age children know the difference between "right and wrong" therefore, for some liberal minded do-gooders to try to pass off some of their horrific crimes as "crimes of youth" is an insult to those that persevere to do whats right and just in this society.

Any acts of atrocities must be dealt with most severe - age should not play a part in the subsequent punishment.

Do unto others as you would have them do unto you - an eye for an eye, whatever the age.

bob kerr

No. While obviously none of us remain the same you have got to respect the fact that if someone thinks violence is the answer at a young age they are unlikely to change.

turntable

yeah it is...we should just execute them...life in prison is more barbaric that the death penalty...

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