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You should now be familiar with two Supreme Court cases related to the Eighth Amendment and juvenile law. Now you will use what you've learned to write an extended response to the focus question. Imagine your state is having voters decide the issue of whether to allow juveniles to be tried and sentenced as adults. The local newspaper has asked students in your course to submit an article on the topic to give minors a voice in the debate. The editor explains that your audience includes voting adults who may be undecided on the issue. Your job is to write a persuasive article to convince them to your side.
Your article will be graded on content and quality. Be sure to use facts and quotes where appropriate to explain or justify your claim. Relate court cases that you have learned about to each other and refer to what you have learned in lessons. You may use this template to organize your article.
"Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted."
—Eighth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution Morris Kent was 16 years old when police arrested and charged him for multiple counts of burglary, robbery, and rape. The teen was already on probation in Washington D.C. for prior burglaries and theft. The prosecutor on the case wanted Kent's trial to happen in adult court. His reasons included Kent's criminal history and the serious nature of the current charges. Kent's lawyer, of course, wanted the case to stay in juvenile court. Had the judge allowed a hearing, Kent's lawyer would have argued that his client was mentally ill. He would have said this fact should be considered before determining which trial court to use. Yet the judge made the decision without holding a hearing. The adult court tried Kent and found him guilty of the charges. His sentence was 30 to 90 years in prison. In his appeal, Kent argued that the case should have stayed in juvenile court.
The Supreme Court did not agree with Morris
Your article will be graded on content and quality. Be sure to use facts and quotes where appropriate to explain or justify your claim. Relate court cases that you have learned about to each other and refer to what you have learned in lessons. You may use this template to organize your article.
"Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted."
—Eighth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution Morris Kent was 16 years old when police arrested and charged him for multiple counts of burglary, robbery, and rape. The teen was already on probation in Washington D.C. for prior burglaries and theft. The prosecutor on the case wanted Kent's trial to happen in adult court. His reasons included Kent's criminal history and the serious nature of the current charges. Kent's lawyer, of course, wanted the case to stay in juvenile court. Had the judge allowed a hearing, Kent's lawyer would have argued that his client was mentally ill. He would have said this fact should be considered before determining which trial court to use. Yet the judge made the decision without holding a hearing. The adult court tried Kent and found him guilty of the charges. His sentence was 30 to 90 years in prison. In his appeal, Kent argued that the case should have stayed in juvenile court.
The Supreme Court did not agree with Morris