Children in Adult Prisons
Children In Adult Prisons
Carol Carlisle
History 303 The American Constitution
Instructor David Ellett
March 14, 2011
Children In Adult Prisons
In the United States, children are sentenced to adult prisons and given adult prison terms. Many of these children are sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. Some of the children were 13 and 14 years old. The children are sentenced to die in prison with no regard to age life history, or familial circumstances. Some states sentence children to life without parole for non homicidal offenses. While children must learn to be accountable for their actions, sentencing children to adult prison terms are cruel and insensitive. This is supported by the Eighth and Fourteenth Amendments of the United States Constitution. Giving children adult sentences in adult institutions denies a child the chance for rehabilitation. Also, the majority of children sentenced to life in prison without parole are black, poor, and poorly educated. (Equal Justice Initiative, 2009). The Eighth Amendment protects citizens against cruel and unusual punishment. The Fourteenth Amendment protects citizens from being deprived the rights of life, liberty, and property by the states. These Amendments were not considered when sentencing children in several states. In several cases that did not involve homicide, very young children were given life sentences in prison without the possibility of parole. In the case of Sullivan versus Florida, Joe Sullivan was 13 years old when convicted of sexual battery. The state of Florida sentenced him to life in prison without the possibility of parole. In 1989, Joe Sullivan, an African American, was 13 years old when he was tried as an adult and sent to an adult prison in Florida. He was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. His background was not taken into account. Joe is developmentally handicapped and was a victim of child
Carol Carlisle
History 303 The American Constitution
Instructor David Ellett
March 14, 2011
Children In Adult Prisons
In the United States, children are sentenced to adult prisons and given adult prison terms. Many of these children are sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. Some of the children were 13 and 14 years old. The children are sentenced to die in prison with no regard to age life history, or familial circumstances. Some states sentence children to life without parole for non homicidal offenses. While children must learn to be accountable for their actions, sentencing children to adult prison terms are cruel and insensitive. This is supported by the Eighth and Fourteenth Amendments of the United States Constitution. Giving children adult sentences in adult institutions denies a child the chance for rehabilitation. Also, the majority of children sentenced to life in prison without parole are black, poor, and poorly educated. (Equal Justice Initiative, 2009). The Eighth Amendment protects citizens against cruel and unusual punishment. The Fourteenth Amendment protects citizens from being deprived the rights of life, liberty, and property by the states. These Amendments were not considered when sentencing children in several states. In several cases that did not involve homicide, very young children were given life sentences in prison without the possibility of parole. In the case of Sullivan versus Florida, Joe Sullivan was 13 years old when convicted of sexual battery. The state of Florida sentenced him to life in prison without the possibility of parole. In 1989, Joe Sullivan, an African American, was 13 years old when he was tried as an adult and sent to an adult prison in Florida. He was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. His background was not taken into account. Joe is developmentally handicapped and was a victim of child
Bibliography: Equal Justice Initiative. (2009). Children in Adult Prison. Retrieved from http://eji.org/eji/childrenprison FindLaw. (2009). Juvenile Life without Parole for Non-Homicidal Offences: Florida Compared to Nation The Oyez Project, Sullivan v. Florida, 560 U.S. ___ (2010) Retrieved from http://oyez.org/cases /2000/2009/2009-2009_08_7621