Serious Answers only..... What do you think?

Question

This is a link that Michigan is working on to help juvies gets out of PRISON when they have a life sentence. Why or why not would you be willing to sign it???

http://www.secondchancelegislation.org

Answer 1

Sorry. I'm not willing to sign it. I work with juveniles every day. Some of them are victims, but many of them are offenders. There are some crimes that are so violent and dangerous, that they deserve to be punished by life in prison. From checking out your link, it appears that Michigan allows 14 year olds to be charged as adults. While I do think that is a bit young, I also find myself wondering how often 14, 15, and 16 year olds are actually tried as adults. My guess is that it only happens in a fraction of the cases and those are the ones that would shock the senses of most people in today's society.

In Alabama, it is automatic that any person 16 years of age or older will be charged as an adult if they commit a violent felony with a weapon. There is no checking with the DA, no asking permission from the judge. It is automatic and mandatory. I am stronly in favor of it. The vast majority of the juveniles being charged as adults under this are repeat offenders. Many of them were charged with the same thing a year or two before and got off with a couple months at the Department of Youth Services. How is putting a violent felon in a bootcamp atmosphere for a couple months going to teach him that armed robbery, assault with a deadly weapon, etc. is wrong? It doesn't. There are only a few of the kids charged like this who are first time offenders, and they are generally given more lenient sentences, but they do their time, too.

Don't get me wrong, I truly believe in rehabilitation, especially for juveniles, but by the age of 16 or 17, being in trouble every few weeks, constantly escalating the seriousness of their crimes, the chances of rehabilitation have dwindled pretty low. And if someone is being sentenced to life without parole, it sounds to me like it was a murder charge, which is as serious as they come.

And if you don't think that a 16 year old understands what he's doing, think again. Tell that to the three 16 year olds who tried to get retribution against the guy they robbed for reporting it. They drove down the street, made sure he and his family were out there, then opened fire on him, his son, grandson, friends, and me with rifles and shotguns. They're lucky they're only going to prison for atttempted murder. They almost died that day. And they knew exactly what they were doing.

Answer 2

I had to think about this one for a while, and my answer is no, I would not sign the petition.

The reason I would not sign it is because I read through the whole site, and I read the actual proposed changes to the law. One of the items states that judges would be allowed to sentence juvenile offenders to any punishment that an adult might receive for the same crime EXCEPT natural life. The fact of the matter is that some crimes will be so heinous that natural life is necessary, and this legislation would bar judges from handing down that sentence under any circumstances.

I believe the current law is also flawed. From what I read, judges have been restricted in what sentences they can mete out. Yes, it is unfair that juveniles with no previous criminal records, or those who were acting under the influence of older people are serving natural life sentences. That should not be the case. From what I read (and I may have misunderstood it), judges are left with the option of sentencing juveniles as juveniles, or sentencing them to natural life. Since both the current law and the proposed changes are flawed, I cannot support either one.

What I could support is giving judges the right to sentence as they see fit, taking all mitigating circumstances into consideration. The sad fact is that age is no barrier to violent behavior, and people under the age of 17 do commit crimes for which they should be separated from society for the rest of their lives. However, there are also people who offend horribly under the age of 17, even committing murders with aggravating circumstances, who are able to be rehabilitated and who are fit to later re-enter society and be contributing members. It has to be taken on a case by case basis, and right now it looks like Michigan is trying the broad-stroke "everyone and every crime are equal" approach. I just don't think that works.

I do think the law needs to be changed in Michigan, but the proposed legislation isn't good either, and it should be fixed. Two bad laws don't cancel each other out and make a good one--they just compound the mistakes.

Answer 3

No way. The only way someone would get a life sentence, especially a juvie, is if they did something really horrible. They should of thought about it before they raped and killed someone, or whatever they did. It sounds rather heartless, but think about the victims and how they felt!!!

Answer 4

if that were the case then everybody should get another chance too. now a day little kids think and act like grown adults look at the Maury show...just kidding but really there just a point in life to where these kids know the difference between right and wrong. also they have test from dr's that analyze the mentality of the minor, too see if they are at a adult understanding level.

Answer 5

No

If we make an exception for this, we are saying that the crime wasn't as bad. Life sentences are only given out when a crime is severe. Murder is murder. They are an example for everyone else you might consider doing something like this.

It is sad, and I may be heartless... but oh well

Answer 6

the state of MI. has been one of the states to make examples out of any kind of law breakers there is. for example: 2 brothers, one worked for the auto industry. the other had no job.the one w/no job broke a leg. the other w/insurance took his brother in to the hospital. used his auto insurance to pay the his brothers bill. they got caught. they both were charged. they both got 5yr.s prison time. MI. said they were to made an example of. MI. has become the 1st. police state. now the rest of the u.s. has followed suit.

Answer 7

No,
a person should do time
if sentenced to. The law
of the land rules.
Yes, it may be sad,
however, the crimes they've
committed, and the many lives
they've destroyed.... get it????

Answer 8

Thank you Jennifer Grandholm.

Answer 9

hell no I wouldn't sign it. I think anyone that kills another person should be cut up into pieces by a butter knife. Oh yeah and anyone who would rape someone should have their wanker cut off

Answer 10

What a dumb idea. Thats the stupidest thing I have ever heard.