quick-fingersJoe Sullivan: Supreme Court Decision
On Monday, the Supreme Court ruled that children that are charged with crimes, other than murder, can no longer be given Life Without Parole. (Segura par. 1)
At 13, Joe Sullivan, whom allegedly raped a 72 year old Florida woman, was handed down a sentence of Life with out parole. Sullivan claimed that he had burglarized the woman's home earlier, but said he did not rape her. (Drummond par. 1).
Joe Sullivan's trial was only one day long and the judge handed down a sentence of life without parole (LWOP). The judge was quoted as having said "I'm going to send him away for as long as I can" (Drummond par. 5-6).
This happened twenty years ago, and Joe Sullivan is now thirty three years old. His legal staff has asked the Supreme Court to deliberate on the nature of the eighth amendment, which states that "Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted."
The Supreme Court has finally ruled in favor of dropping the Sullivan case on the grounds that the punishment is cruel and unusual.
Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy compared LWOP to the death penalty, because "life without parole sentences share some characteristics with death sentences that are shared by no other sentences" (Segura par. 3).
Justice Kennedy goes on to say that LWOP is a harsh punishment for someone under 18 because the juvenile will serve more years in prison that an adult, even though they are technically the same punishment (Segura Par. 5).
This judgment made by the Supreme Court is an important one, because the eighth amendment doesn't get interpreted very often, but it does serve a purpose. I believe that a LWOP sentence for a juvenile is extremely harsh. Children are not adults, especially when they are thirteen years old, so they shouldn't be treated like such.
Children act differently than adults do, this is nature taking it's inevitable course. Children, whatever the crime they commit, deserve another chance; they do eventually grow up at some point, and should be granted every opportunity to do right, or to do wrong.
I think the Supreme Court's ruling is one of justice and one that will be used for many years to come in regard to cases involving children.
I am all for punishment, but LWOP is extremely harsh in cases such as this, so I say good on the Supreme Court for their decision, and hopefully we can look forward to more like it in the future.
Do you agree with the Supreme Court ruling? Cast your vote by going here.
Thank you for your participation.
Sources:
Segura, Liliana. "Major Supreme Court Ruling: Kids Who Didn't Kill Anyone Should Not Have to Die in Prison." AlterNet. Web. 18 May 2010.
Drummond. "Life Term for rape-Cruel and Unusual for Joe Sullivan?" Chocolate City: The Best African American Blog. 3 Feb 2009. Web. 18 May 2010.
At 13, Joe Sullivan, whom allegedly raped a 72 year old Florida woman, was handed down a sentence of Life with out parole. Sullivan claimed that he had burglarized the woman's home earlier, but said he did not rape her. (Drummond par. 1).
Joe Sullivan's trial was only one day long and the judge handed down a sentence of life without parole (LWOP). The judge was quoted as having said "I'm going to send him away for as long as I can" (Drummond par. 5-6).
This happened twenty years ago, and Joe Sullivan is now thirty three years old. His legal staff has asked the Supreme Court to deliberate on the nature of the eighth amendment, which states that "Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted."
The Supreme Court has finally ruled in favor of dropping the Sullivan case on the grounds that the punishment is cruel and unusual.
Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy compared LWOP to the death penalty, because "life without parole sentences share some characteristics with death sentences that are shared by no other sentences" (Segura par. 3).
Justice Kennedy goes on to say that LWOP is a harsh punishment for someone under 18 because the juvenile will serve more years in prison that an adult, even though they are technically the same punishment (Segura Par. 5).
This judgment made by the Supreme Court is an important one, because the eighth amendment doesn't get interpreted very often, but it does serve a purpose. I believe that a LWOP sentence for a juvenile is extremely harsh. Children are not adults, especially when they are thirteen years old, so they shouldn't be treated like such.
Children act differently than adults do, this is nature taking it's inevitable course. Children, whatever the crime they commit, deserve another chance; they do eventually grow up at some point, and should be granted every opportunity to do right, or to do wrong.
I think the Supreme Court's ruling is one of justice and one that will be used for many years to come in regard to cases involving children.
I am all for punishment, but LWOP is extremely harsh in cases such as this, so I say good on the Supreme Court for their decision, and hopefully we can look forward to more like it in the future.
Do you agree with the Supreme Court ruling? Cast your vote by going here.
Thank you for your participation.
Sources:
Segura, Liliana. "Major Supreme Court Ruling: Kids Who Didn't Kill Anyone Should Not Have to Die in Prison." AlterNet. Web. 18 May 2010.
Drummond. "Life Term for rape-Cruel and Unusual for Joe Sullivan?" Chocolate City: The Best African American Blog. 3 Feb 2009. Web. 18 May 2010.
