Ruling with an Iron fist
Courtney Cox
Word count 510
Ruling with the Iron Fist
According to an Africa saying “it takes a village to raise a child.” In Judy Sheindlin’s essay “Enough is Enough” she says the only way juveniles will reform is harsh punishment for first time offenders. In contrast Mercer Sullivan’s article “Mapping the streets of crime” he says that the “low-income neighborhoods” (Newsweek, p.23) influence juveniles to go down a path of crime. If the neighborhood is pushing it inhabitants into a life of crime then that is doing the opposite of reforming them. Mercer Sullivan is trying to enforce a slap on the wrist, without a real punishment these offenders aren’t going to stop committing crimes. Judy Sheindlin imposes the iron fist on juveniles, and by throwing the book at them these delinquents will learn their lesson. Judy Sheindlin punishments to first time offenders are harsher because she says “convicted juveniles, like adult offenders, often gain early and undeserved release from jail.” (Sheindlin, p.27) Her ideas are better; Sheindlin understands that if a juvenile is convicted of a crime they need to be severe punished, resolving the juvenile to do a crime again. Unlike Mercer Sullivan, he thinks that the neighborhood these juveniles grow up in; influence them to do a crime. However, Sullivan thinks a slap on the wrist for first time offenders will be better than a harsh punishment. “Few of the back and Hispanic youths managed to find part-time work. Instead, they took street corners where most moved from intramural mayhem to mugging…”(Newsweek, p.24) He says if these juveniles find a part-time job it’ll take them off the streets and not make bad decisions. His idea is different, doesn’t seem to promising. Juveniles need to be punished, they won’t learn if they don’t get a stern understanding what is wrong and what is right. According to an African “it takes a village to raise a child.” After reading both Mercer Sullivan’s article and Judy
Word count 510
Ruling with the Iron Fist
According to an Africa saying “it takes a village to raise a child.” In Judy Sheindlin’s essay “Enough is Enough” she says the only way juveniles will reform is harsh punishment for first time offenders. In contrast Mercer Sullivan’s article “Mapping the streets of crime” he says that the “low-income neighborhoods” (Newsweek, p.23) influence juveniles to go down a path of crime. If the neighborhood is pushing it inhabitants into a life of crime then that is doing the opposite of reforming them. Mercer Sullivan is trying to enforce a slap on the wrist, without a real punishment these offenders aren’t going to stop committing crimes. Judy Sheindlin imposes the iron fist on juveniles, and by throwing the book at them these delinquents will learn their lesson. Judy Sheindlin punishments to first time offenders are harsher because she says “convicted juveniles, like adult offenders, often gain early and undeserved release from jail.” (Sheindlin, p.27) Her ideas are better; Sheindlin understands that if a juvenile is convicted of a crime they need to be severe punished, resolving the juvenile to do a crime again. Unlike Mercer Sullivan, he thinks that the neighborhood these juveniles grow up in; influence them to do a crime. However, Sullivan thinks a slap on the wrist for first time offenders will be better than a harsh punishment. “Few of the back and Hispanic youths managed to find part-time work. Instead, they took street corners where most moved from intramural mayhem to mugging…”(Newsweek, p.24) He says if these juveniles find a part-time job it’ll take them off the streets and not make bad decisions. His idea is different, doesn’t seem to promising. Juveniles need to be punished, they won’t learn if they don’t get a stern understanding what is wrong and what is right. According to an African “it takes a village to raise a child.” After reading both Mercer Sullivan’s article and Judy