Juvenile Justice. Quickwrite If you committed a crime, do you think it would be fair for you to be punished the same way as an adult who committed the

Juvenile Justice

Quickwrite

If you committed a crime, do you think it would be fair for you to be punished the same way as an adult who committed the same crime?

Take 5 minutes to fully respond. Keep this quickwrite – this will be part of your packet called “Juvenile Justice”

* Insert Grammar Lesson Here (Ch. 6)

Key Concepts & Legal Terms

Homicide is the killing of one person by another, either intentionally or unintentionally. Homicide includes accidents and murder.

Murder is killing someone with malice of forethought. It could be done while committing another crime.

Key Concepts & Legal Terms

First-degree murder is killing a person with malice of forethought; the killing was planned. It was deliberately done.

Second-degree murder is a killing done during a crime deemed dangerous to human life (like driving drunk). The crime was most likely not committed with the intention of killing.

Voluntary manslaughter is killing someone intentionally but without malice of forethought. For example, if the killing was a crime of passion (such as killing a spouse because of jealousy), the intention was to kill. However, there was no malice of forethought because it was not planned.

Involuntary manslaughter is killing someone unlawfully but without malice of forethought. It was committed without intent to kill and without a conscious disregard for human life (such as a traffic accident).

Scenarios: What is the crime?

Actual Situation Crime or Conviction

Punishment or Sentencing

A troubled 17-year-old girl has slowly poisoned her parents each night as dinner. After three months she came home to find them dead on the kitchen floor. The coroner’s report indicated that cyanide poisoning caused their deaths.




A troubled 17-year-old girl has slowly poisoned her parents each night as dinner. After three months she came home to find them dead on the kitchen floor. The coroner’s report indicated that cyanide poisoning caused their deaths.

First-degree murder

Sentenced to life in prison without parole




Three 16-year-olds were hanging out at a park drinking. One boy started shoving his friend. Soon the shoving escalated to punching. One boy tripped, and his head hit a sharp-edged rock. The boy died before help arrived.




Three 16-year-olds were hanging out at a park drinking. One boy started shoving his friend. Soon the shoving escalated to punching. One boy tripped, and his head hit a sharp-edged rock. The boy died before help arrived.

Second-degree murder

Sentenced to three years in prison after being tried as an adult.




Suspicious that his girlfriend was cheating, a 16-year old boy went to her house and found her in bed with his brother. Impulsively, he grabbed the nearest lamp and hit his brother on the head. His brother died two days later.




Suspicious that his girlfriend was cheating, a 16-year old boy went to her house and found her in bed with his brother. Impulsively, he grabbed the nearest lamp and hit his brother on the head. His brother died two days later.

Voluntary manslaughter

Sentenced to six years in prison




A 13-year-old boy broke into an auto parts business to steal hubcaps. The 17-year-old security guard picked up his boss’ gun and fired two warning shots at the thief. The second shot hit the 13-year-old and killed him on the spot.




A 13-year-old boy broke into an auto parts business to steal hubcaps. The 17-year-old security guard picked up his boss’ gun and fired two warning shots at the thief. The second shot hit the 13-year-old and killed him on the spot.

Involuntary manslaughter

Sentenced to fifteen years to life

Documents

Juvenile Justice. Quickwrite If you committed a crime, do you think it would be fair for you to be punished the same way as an adult who committed the