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| The Right Time to do the Right Thing for Juvenile Murderers |
| By James Alan Fox, Lipman Family Professor of Criminology, Law and Public Policy, Northeastern University |
| Published: 02/11/2013 |
It often comes as a surprise to many folks to learn that Massachusetts, despite its unearned reputation for being soft on crime, is one of the harshest states in the nation when it comes to punishing juvenile murderers. Unlike most states, which allow some flexibility in how to prosecute kids who kill or how long to incarcerate them if convicted, Massachusetts has for the past two decades had only one approach for those as young as 14 charged with first degree murder: prosecution as an adult and a life sentence without parole, if convicted. Efforts in recent years to reform the juvenile murder statute have failed as many of our lawmakers worry about the political fallout from moderating punishments.
At this point, now that the U.S. Supreme Court has determined mandatory life without parole eligibility for juveniles to be unconstitutional, Massachusetts is one of many states that have no choice but to re-examine sentencing policies. The only question will be whether we comply with the Supreme Court mandate minimally be replacing life without parole by extremely long prison terms or we adopt a more enlightened, sensible and flexible approach that reflects the spirit of the Court decision. The message from the Court was clear: Kids are different from adults, and should not be held to the same standard of criminal responsibility, no matter how heinous the crime. This does not mean that juveniles should not suffer the consequences of their actions; only that the consequences should be measured according to their limited capacity for making sound decisions, their susceptibility to external influences and especially their malleability. Unlike many hardened adult criminals who are quite set in their ways, juveniles can mature out of their impulsive and imprudent patterns of behavior. It is this possibility for change that prescribes giving juvenile offenders the possibility for a second chance, that is, of course, only if they earn it. In today’s criminal justice climate, it requires bold and progressive leadership to resist the “throw away the key” mentality in response to murder. The key to freedom should rarely, if ever, be discarded when it comes to juveniles. This is especially true for first offenders and juveniles caught up in acts of mayhem by their peers. The most sensible approach would be to make all juvenile offenders eligible for parole. Eligibility for release is far from a guarantee. Any changes in punishment should be judged by a parole board or other resentencing authority after the perpetrator has served many long years behind bars, rather than being anticipated by a judge or jury at trial when emotions are high and political pressure is intense. Punishments should fit the criminal, not just the crime. Editor's note: Reprinted with permission - Author James Alan Fox is the Lipman Family Professor of Criminology, Law, and Public Policy at Northeastern University. He is the author of the Boston.com blog "Crime and Punishment". He has written 18 books, including his newest, "Violence and Security on Campus: From Preschool through College." He has published dozens of journal and magazine articles, and hundreds of freelance columns in newspapers around the country, primarily in the areas of multiple murder, youth crime, school and campus violence, workplace violence, and capital punishment. Other articles by Fox: |
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Hamilton loves books about unicorns, storms, and cubicles. He lives in Waco with his cat named Mr. Bojangles. Before his work as an attorney, Hamilton was a leprechaun chaser. His all-time record is three pots of gold at the end of the rainbow. He was forced to give up the gold in a dispute with a rival hobbit. He spends his free time tripping out on the smallest details, none of which are important He likes doing the things with the ball and scoring the points. He pays attention to the green of your eyes, even when it is not Saint Patrick’s Day. He is not Irish. Hamilton Lindley has fun plans for people in need. Whether your need a dreamcatcher for your dreams or a tape dispenser to put your life back together, he can be there for you to yell at. There are times when it is surprising that he has any friends at all. But thankfully he does have a few. He drives a Dodge Stratus. People respect him, except at home.
Our entire society has gone soft on crime. Criminals are becoming more ruthless and we are still soft pedaling punishment. I am the mother of a murdered child as well as a corrections nurse and think that it is horrible that these criminals have so many rights and know that they can go unpunished for years.