Who thinks its right to sentence a 15 year old boy to 26yrs in jail for killing a friend of his when h was 12?

Question

This is the story I'm talking about. Personaly, I think this is really wrong. The kid was only 12 years old. I think that is the definition of extreme, in more ways than one. I wanna hear what others think about it.
http://www.cnn.com/2006/LAW/07/10/boy.sentenced.ap/index.html?section=cnn_topstories

Answer 1

I think this boy should have gotten the death penalty because he took a life and he should have to give his. I don't care if he was 12 or not he knows that killing someone is wrong. I think a 5 year old would know that. I think its an injustice that he only got 26 years in jail. Its a sad world we live in when people don't have to give their life for taking a life.

Answer 2

I think I speak for most all of us when I say, we need more details on this case.... if it was an accident, or negligence, 26 years seems extreme. If he killed someone in cold blood on purpose, then, in my opinion 26 years is not too much. More detail about this matter is needed to give you a thorough opinion.

O.k. I just checked out the story and got the details. I definitely think that boy deserves the 26 years he got, and then some. There's something scarily wrong with him that he could do what he did. He's a menace to society. Twenty six years is less than what he deserves, and society will have to be watching him closely when he gets out. I hope he gets some kind of treatment while he's doing his time. Chances are, he's not rehabilitative. I hope he doesn't kill anyone else. I feel sorry for the dead kid and his family.

Answer 3

I doubt very seriously that you will find many people who feel sympethetic towards this boy because at the age of 15 you definately know right from wrong. I know that the mother of this boy probably does not think he should be punished so harshly either but the fact remains he took a life.What if it were your child he killed ??You would want the death penalty just out of pure anger and hatred! Everyone will have different opinions about how this child should pay for his crime so as far as my opinion goes I would say if it were a real accident then no but if it is a malicious act of killing in cold blood ,LET HIM DO THE TIME!Unfortunately Jail won't make him worse,whatever is wrong with him mentally will get worse anyway....Sorry I could not agree with you...

Answer 4

Imagine yourself as a family member of the victim; would you let the suspect go because he's just a child that time? Regardless of age, ethnicity, religion, among other things, taking a life is still considered mostly as a crime. To simply let the suspect off the hook for something he has yet to comprehend is like letting a wolf cub loose after eating a sheep in the flock.....only to come back again for another hunt. The young child must take full responsibility for the actions that he's done, most especially in this manner.

Answer 5

You kill another human being and a slap on the wrist will never teach the killer the import of a human life. There is a price to pay for killing a human being. Usually it is death. Since the boy was a miner they gave him 26 years. That wasn't death and it wasn't a life sentence.
In sentencing they take into account the character and attitude of the accused. No doubt the jury or judge decided to put him away to protect society and to keep him away from society for a long while.

Answer 6

That kid is the devil! I never had thoughts of killing someone at that age. I don't think that he should be in prison, I think the kid should be in a mental institution for research. We need to find out what makes a kid like that tick, so we can help others who may fall into this category. Was it environment? Was it genetic? Maybe some sort of brain damage from an accident. We don't know, but to just let him sit in prison is a waste of research. We need to find out what is going on with this kid.

Answer 7

well, the 12 year old boy at the time was above the age of reasoning (knowing the difference between right and wrong), and you must serve a punishment, but he should be grateful that he didn't do this as an adult because he would have served more time then.

since this boy knew what he was doing and he did know the safety factors, he should've thought of his actions, but instead, he didn't. and there is no doubt that he will have this hanging over his head for the rest of his life, but all he can do now is ask for forgiveness

Answer 8

Any one who kills regardless of age should get the max amount the law will allow. In 26 years that kid will be able to live his life but the poor child who is dead has no other chances he will never be married have children, his mother will never hear his laughter or kiss him good night or get to see his first date. So I really feel like the kid got what he deserved and it should have been more time if you ask me. That is whats wrong with people you feel sorry for the wrong people. Feel sorry for the kid who LOST his life and for his family not for that killer kid.

Answer 9

Based on the story as reported in the link you provided I don't think that 26 years is long enough. He fell out of a tree? with 34 stab wounds. I don't care how old you are, to have the ability to stab someone developmentally disabled 34 times doesn't deserve 10 cents of my tax dollars to keep around. There is no rehabilitation for someone that sick!!

Answer 10

It's a tough call. I understand a 12 year old doesn't understand the permanence of death, and had to influenced by a more gully party .
I do feel sorry for kids in this predicament no matter what they did. And glad I am not on the jury, or a member of those prosecuting