“Sociopathic mindset is difficult to measure and as a justice system, we are reactive. I don’t believe children should be incarcerated with adults but I think there is a side of humanity that must be addressed and that is the violent aspect. How we hold humanity accountable responsibly and humanly is the question. We have no jurisdiction over the spirits of and the types of spirits that inhabit another, especially those spirits looking to harm, but children among adults will not help them. I think it would be detrimental.”
“There are some crimes that theoretically warrant it for the safety of society. It is a difficult task for court officials to decide if trying a child as an adult is warranted. To incarcerate them and house them with adults, I believe, is counterproductive for the overall well-being of the child. There have to be alternative methods of penalty for serious and violent crimes committed by children. But as the system is right now, if it’s a life sentence, it’s juvenile until 18, and even at 18 years of age, although legally defined as an adult, children are still in the developmental stages.”
“Yes. They can do harm just like adults, and a lot of times kids are committing crimes because they know they will not be charged as an adult, so they have fewer worries about it. But at the same time, having children in jail with adults raises a whole new safety concern, physically and mentally.”
“Yes, if they are trafficking drugs in a high amount, they should be tried as an adult, or for any other crime that is done at a high level, like gangbanging as well.”
“I think children should take accountability for their actions. Research shows that adolescent minds are not fully developed, so to try them as adults is not psychologically sound if the aim is to rehabilitate. If we could avoid imprisonment altogether and devise other options or alternative measures to help children cope with deviant behavior, I am all for it. But to put children in prison with adults is not the answer.”
“Yes and no. Yes, if it is a crime like murder because they are fully capable of knowing the wrong in taking someone’s life. No, because let’s say a kid stole some candy from the store—a crime, but not as serious. So, I think situations like that would be why I say no. But it just depends on the severity of the crime and the mental state of the kid.”