The Hope of Change

Juveniles should be punished and assume the consequences of their actions. If they are not giving a penalty they will believe their actions were not severe and will repeat them once again. Although I do concede that juveniles should be punished I extremely disagree that they should be sentenced to life in prison.

           

          According to Dr. Frances Jensen the teenage brain is not fully developed and is incapable of making the same choices as an adult. They are immature and impulsive leading them to commit heinous crimes. Jensen also states that

“The problem with the adolescent is that they may not have the insider judgment, because their frontal lobes aren't completely online yet, to know when to stop. To know when to say, ‘This is not a safe piece of information for me to look at. If I go and look at this atrocious violent video, it may stick with me for the rest of my life — this image — and this may not be a good thing to be carrying with me.’ They are unaware of when to gate themselves” (Jensen).

This quote supports that teenagers do not reason or think of the consequences before they commit an act.

            Juveniles are not perfect and will always commit mistakes. Sentencing these adolescents to life in prison is a huge error. Within the years they are giving in prison and the help and rehabilitation they receive, they will be able to realize their mistakes. They can\not take away juveniles the hope of change and be a new person