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SOC 331 Week 5 DQ 1 Retributive Justice and Mandatory Life Imprisonment for Juvenile Offenders

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SOC 331 Week 5 DQ 1 Retributive Justice and Mandatory Life Imprisonment for Juvenile Offenders
This file of SOC 331 Week 5 Discussion Question 1 Retributive Justice and Mandatory Life Imprisonment for Juvenile Offenders consists of:

In Chapter 5 of the textbook, the author examines retributive justice from the standpoint of the means of punishment (Section 5.2). He calls attention to the length of prison sentences and, in particular, the issue of mandatory life sentences for juvenile offenders.

In 2012, the U.S. Supreme Court declared laws that require judges to impose life-without-parole sentences for juveniles to be in violation of the Eighth Amendment Sociology - General Sociology Retributive Justice and Mandatory Life Imprisonment for Juvenile Offenders . In Chapter 5 of the textbook, the author examines retributive justice from the standpoint of the means of punishment (Section 5.2). He calls attention to the length of prison sentences and, in particular, the issue of mandatory life sentences for juvenile offenders.

In 2012, the U.S. Supreme Court declared laws that require judges to impose life-without-parole sentences for juveniles to be in violation of the Eighth Amendment’s prohibition of “cruel and unusual punishments.” The decision ( Miller v. Alabama ) was a 5-4 split in the Court – which is typical of many such decisions that apply the cruel and unusual punishment provision.

Your initial post must analyze the retributive justice issues of mandatory, life-without-parole sentences. Consider the facts of Miller v. Alabama : Defendant Miller, a 14-year old boy, with an accomplice beat the victim with a baseball bat and set his trailer on fire with the victim inside. Defendant Miller was tried as an adult for capital murder while committing arson.

Is a mandatory, life-without-parole sentence just in such circumstances? Remember that “just” may or may not be the same as “constitutional.” Summarize both the pros an...

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