CelticGaelic t1_j0jy78a wrote on December 17, 2022 at 5:18 AM

Reply to comment by subzero112001 in Young Kids, Hard Time (2011) - "When it comes to kids and punishment, the question needs to be answered: Do kids, no matter what the crime, belong in the adult prison?" [00:41:45] by MiddleUziVert

You make a good point, but the question had to be asked: was there a mental/psychological issue at the core of the act? Could the kid genuinely not understand the long term impact their actions will have?

CharlemagneAdelaar t1_j0kvux0 wrote on December 17, 2022 at 12:39 PM

Well, let's throw a scenario at the wall.

I personally do not believe in rehabilitating school shooters -- if a child decides to murder their peers, regardless of age, that person should not be allowed back out into society.

Either way, it won't matter to most of us if they get put into adult jail or juvie, as long as the outcome is the same -- barring them from society for the rest of their lives.

When rehabilitation is not the goal, it matters a lot less HOW we deal with it -- keep them away from society in any way possible.

For lesser crimes, if rehabilitation is the goal, then I can see separating child vs. adult jails.

CelticGaelic t1_j0mh8cz wrote on December 17, 2022 at 8:03 PM

I have very mixed thoughts and feelings on situations like that. Mostly? I agree with you.

But I am hoping that we find some better way. Regardless, though, the fact of the matter remains that treating acts of violence like that as actions of a mentally ill person doesn't mean they get away with it. Contrary to what Hollywood likes to say, when you successfully employ the Insanity Plea, you're most likely never leaving the hospital they put you in.

With all that said, I've also had conversations about high profile serial killers like Ted Bundy and John Wayne Gacy. My views on the death penalty have changed a lot, but I still believe that execution was really the only reasonable way to deal with those two. The point with this semi-off topic tangent being that it's a really complicated issue, and I'm not sure what the right answer is at this point in time.

I do hope that, some day, we know enough about what makes kids do horrible things, how to identify the warning signs, and get them help ahead of time so that this isn't even a debate.