Juvenile JusticeDay #1

Activity #1 - Quick Write 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? Why or why not? At what age should teens be charged as an adult? Give specific examples.

Discuss the questions below in your table groups and be prepared to share with the class.

1. Who is a juvenile? What are some synonyms for “juvenile”?

2. What are the differences between an adult and a juvenile? Brainstorm a list of qualities that characterize a juvenile and an adult. Write your words on the board.

Exploring Key Concepts

Activity #2 -Explaining the Legal System

In 2007 Prop 21 was passed stating: more juvenile offenders will be tried in adult court, certain juvenile offenders will be held in local or state correctional facilities, there will be an increase in penalties for gang-related crimes, and the list is expanded of violent and serious offenses for which longer prison sentences are given.

Supreme court ruling in 2012: "Life in prison for a teen is ‘cruel and unusual' punishment.”

Discuss this with your shoulder partner: what does all this mean for a teen who commits a violent crime in California?

Review the handout Juvenile Justice vs. Adult Justice. Write a 3-4 sentence summary of each system. Then, write a paragraph comparing and contrasting the two systems.

5 Criteria for Charging a Juvenile as an Adult

the level of the offender's criminal sophistication

whether the minor can be rehabilitated within the time the juvenile system has jurisdiction over him or her

previous delinquent history the success of prior attempts at

rehabilitation the seriousness of the crime

Find an Across the Room Partner…

…and share with them one thingsyou learned so far today. Be prepared to share what your partner told you.

Activity #3 – Sasha & Richard In your groups, share what you read about the two people

involved in the fire on the 57 bus. Then, answer the following questions in complete and thoughtful

answers.1) In what ways are Sasha & Richard similar?2) Did Sasha’s attitude toward Richard surprise you? Did

their parents’ attitude surprise you? Why or why not?3) What connection do you see between Sasha and any of

the articles on Language, Gender & Culture?4) Do you think that Richard fit the criteria for being

charged as an adult? Why or why not?5) Do you think that what Richard did should be classified

as a hate crime? Explain.6) Do you think that there was a benefit in Richard being

charged as an adult? Explain.7) What was your response/thoughts/reaction to this story?

Definitions of some legal terms for killing someone are provided below. Study them and explain the differences in your own words as you discuss them with your table group.

Review the legal terms with your table group:

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. Murder is always illegal.

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

Second-degree murder is a killing done during a crime deemed dangerous to a human life. 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 (killing a spouse or lover 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 with- out a conscious disregard for human life.

 

Actual situation Crime or conviction Punishment or sentencing

A troubled 17-year-old girl has slowly poisoned her parents each night at 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 the park drinking whiskey. One boy started shoving his friend. Soon the shoving escalated into punching. One boy tripped, and his head hit a sharp-edged rock. The boy died before help arrived.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.A 13-year-old boy broke into an auto parts business to steal hubcaps. The 17-year-old security guard picked up his boss’s gun and fired two warning shots at the thief. The second shot hit the 13-year-old and killed him on the spot.

In your table groups, discuss each of the scenarios and decide what the crime or conviction should be and what the punishment or sentencing should be, making your predictions on your worksheet.

Activity #4 -Matching

 

Actual situation

Crime or conviction Punishment or sentencing

Three 16-year-olds were hanging out at the park drinking whiskey. One boy started shoving his friend. Soon the shoving escalated into 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

Matching

 Actual situation

Crime or conviction

Punishment or sentencing

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

Matching

 

Actual situation Crime or conviction Punishment or sentencing

A 13-year-old boy broke into an auto parts business to steal hubcaps. The 17-year-old security guard picked up his boss’s 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 15 years to life

Matching

Due Now: Activity #1 – Quick Write Activity #2 – Explaining the Legal

System Activity #3 – Sasha & Richard Annotated “Fire on 57 Bus” Article Activity #4 – Matching Worksheet

Essay Prompt Write your name on your prompt and

answer the question in as much detail as possible.

KEEP YOUR HANDOUT! You will need it when you write your essay.