Problem
Supplementary Reading 12. No Remorse
This is a look at a controversial topic in criminal justice, teens tried as adults. By looking at historical cases where teenagers are tried as adults, the author Rachel Aviv, makes us question the appropriateness of the law. Many states have created laws where depending on the crime, teenagers can be tried as adults. The laws effectively strip young people of age development; they erode juvenile justice from its special treatment of adolescents. The author highlights many controversies by focusing primarily on the case of Dakotah Eliason, a young teen who was charged as an adult for the murder of his grandfather. As usual, here are some questions that may facilitate your thinking on the matter.
a) What do you think pushed Dakotah to commit his crime?
b) Why do you think Dakotah showed no remorse?
c) Should Dakotah be treated or imprisoned?
d) Do you consider life without parole proper for juveniles?
e) Are teenagers different from adults or has technology closed the gap?