Juveniles Should Not Be Mandatory Essay

Four years ago on June 25th, the Supreme Court ruled that juveniles who committed heinous crimes could not be sentenced to mandatory life imprisonment because it violated the Eighth Amendment’s ban on barbaric and unusual punishment. Justice Elena Kagan, speaking on the behalf of the majority, adds that “Mandatory life without parole for a juvenile precludes consideration of his chronological age and its hallmark features- among them, immaturity, impetuosity, and failure to appreciate risks and consequences.” A child is not a man as he isn’t granted the privileges an adult would have. Which end of the spectrum do I stand in this controversial topic? I wholeheartedly agree that juveniles who commit horrendous murders should not face mandatory life in prison as they still undergo changes in their brain, their upbringing may have been dysfunctional, and there are other alternatives that are less expensive and more effective. Adolescent brains haven’t fully developed nor matured. Grey matter, which is responsible for thinking and emotions in the
Juveniles should not be tried as adults as their brains are still developing, their childhood may have been abusive, and there are cost effective alternatives. The court officials and judges should take into consideration of the various underlying factors of youths committing crime. Getting rid of mandatory life sentences is necessary and juveniles should be placed into rehabilitation programs instead. Children will be future leaders and the future is in their hands, therefore, society has to lead them on the right path. Locking a mere child into a cage and throwing away the key is not the right way to go, rather steps should be taken to ensure their safety and allow them the chance to remedy their behavior because prison won’t provide the guidance they need. With help, juveniles will mature and become responsible