Why Is Life Without Parole (lwop) Immoral for Juvenile Delinquents?

Why is Life Without Parole (LWOP) Immoral for Juvenile Delinquents?

Abstract

This essay will discuss the definition of a juvenile delinquent. It will also discuss why a juvenile should not be sentenced to life without parole, as well as an advantage and disadvantage. It will then state an option that a juvenile can be offered and will finally discuss how rehabilitation can be a better option for juveniles.

Juvenile Delinquents

A juvenile delinquent is a under aged person who breaks the law. They are also known as a child or a young person that is guilty of a crime such as disorderly behavior, vandalism or violence. Despite the crime, it may seem that juveniles should not face the same life-sentence as adults because they are not mentally capable as adults in which they sometimes act on instinct and tend to follow their peers. Juveniles are said not to have the same mind frame as adults and can be rehabilitated. Although some may not be redeemable, they should not be sentenced to a life without given a chance to prove that they can turn themselves around. Life without parole is not the appropriate way of punishing a minor for a crime he has done.

Juveniles commit crimes for different reasons. Some juveniles commit crimes because of the type of environment they live in, or even because of their surroundings. Some courts sometimes categorize juveniles based on the crime that they committed. While the crimes may have been committed the same way, not every juvenile is the same. Not because two different minors committed the same crime and showed no remorse means that they should be punished the same way. Not because one child may not seem to be redeemable means that all of them are the same. A Florida judge sentenced a 16 year old boy to a life-sentence without parole because he felt that he was unredeemable and that was his only option. The down fall to that was that the minor was not given the chance to prove himself. Sometimes people are punished based on what others have done.

In cases that involved homicide or felony murder charges, some states have recently withdrew life-sentencing without parole for juveniles and offer provisions so that the juvenile can possibly parole after 40 years in prison. It is said that juveniles do not develop in the same way as adults and are given into impulsivity, unruliness and are more vulnerable to peer pressure. The difference in how a minors brain develops, being less responsible and their emotional maturity, are some factors why their sentencing should be considered differently from adults. It is agreed that they need to be punished for their crimes but the punishment should allow rehabilitation and life without parole does not offer that.

Some people feel that when a crime is committed because of what's happening around them