Juveniles The Criminal Justice System - 1777 Words

Juveniles in the Criminal Justice System Introduction In the United States, juveniles have always known to cause trouble in the community. In recent times, many individuals have the perception that juvenile crimes are on the rise and that these offenders are getting younger. Charging juveniles as adult has always been a debate, because of their thinking process and protecting their rights. There are many cases that regard juveniles that have changed the policies of this nation. Also for those juveniles that are convicted as adults, there are many challenges that correctional officials have when housing them. Waivering juveniles to adult court has many factors to it and whether or not juveniles age thirteen and fourteen should be†¦show more content†¦In 2003, the Missouri Supreme Court reviewed his case and lowered his sentence to life imprisonment since they believed that it would be cruel and unusual punishment to sentence a juvenile to death under the Eighth and Fourteenth Amendment. When the state of Missouri appealed this ruling, the United States Supreme Court agreed to hear this case. This hearing overturned a 1989 decision (Stanford v. Kentucky) in which it was suitable for sentence sixteen and seventeen years old to capital punishment (Roper v. Simmons, 2005). Graham v. Florida (2010) In 2003, Terrace Graham, who was sixteen at the time, was arrested for armed burglary with assault or battery and attempted armed-robbery. Graham pleaded guilty to both charges under a plea agreement. He wrote a letter to the trial court expressing his remorse and promises to turn his life around. The trial court agreed to his plea agreement and sentenced him to 3 years of probation, the first year being in a county jail. Graham was released on June 25, 2004. In December 2004, Graham was again arrested for armed burglary and attempted armed robbery. Since he violated probation, the trial court sentenced him to life imprisonment for the armed burglary and fifteen years for the attempted robbery. Graham, then filed a motion because he believed that his sentence violated his Eighth Amendment. The First District Court of Appeal of Florida did not think