Cruel And Unusual Punishment Research Paper

Many under age kids commit crimes and get really hard punishments for it. Knowing that they are still growing up, they sometimes get life without parole in prison. Recent statistics show that in 2007 the crime rate increased, but in 2015 it decreased dramatically. I agree with the majority of Supreme Court Justices who believe that this sentence violates the Eighth Amendment's ban on cruel and unusual punishment because juveniles are still immature, developing their brains, and unaware of impact of decision. In middle school and in high school is when stages for juveniles behavior happen. They can either go from really immature to the maturest that they've ever been. “Young people are biologically different from adult” (Garinger 1). Young
According to the University of Rochester medical center, a teen’s brain isn't fully developed and won't be until the age of 25 or so. “Brain imaging studies reveal that the regions of the adolescent brain responsible for controlling thoughts, actions, and emotions are not fully developed” (1). This quotation explains that adolescent’s is not the same as adults so there is no reason for them to be charged as adults. These teenagers don't deserve to serve life in prison because of the mistakes they committed as they are growing up. “Until they commit crimes. And the bigger the crime, the more eager we are to call them adults” (Lundstrom 1). Prosecutors, judges, the jury, and many other people are quickly to assume that because a younger person committed a crime that they want to act like adults or that they are in gangs. They misjudge them because of the crime they have committed. They don’t listen to their story nor give them a chance to explain why they did it. They’re adults when they commit crimes, but not when it comes to rated R movies or drinking because then they would have to ask for their parents permission. So why is it okay to charge them as adults if they’re still not allowed to do adult