Frontline - Putting children in jail for life

Stories from 5 sad cases of incarceration in Colorado. All the guys were teens at the time of their crime. Some were victims of outrageous laws that the rest of the world sees as barbaric. Welcome to America. Why are we a shining beacon to anyone?
See http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/whenkidsgetlife/view/ for the complete story.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• justice
• juvenile
• injustice
• children
• teens
• life
• parole
• abuse
• victims
• vengeance

[larrybum]

Check the Frontline web site to see if any remnents of this story are around. Some of these cases are for felony murder. Look up the definition and recognize that few countries have such a barbaric law. These guys couldn't even sign legal contract when they committed these "crimes" yet they are held fully accountable. A Christian country? Don't make me laugh.

[eyholmess]

I totally feel for these kids, I mean who didn't savagely beat people ( without intending to kill them obviously ) when they were 17? I frequently stabbed people but once I turned 18 I quit that shit because of the magical barrier between 17 and 18.

[larrybum]

@eyholmess By God, you need to watch the whole PBS episode on how these kids got into trouble. You wouldn't believe it, but of course you don't want to believe it .... just want to spew your ignorant opinions.

[Geenu5]

The case of Ashley Jones, who was 14 when she killed, illustrates the seriousness of many crimes that result in for-life sentences.

"One night in August 1999, Jones and her 16-year-old boyfriend, Geramie Hart, angered by her family's disapproval of their relationship, went to her home in Birmingham, Alabama. They set her grandfather on fire with lighter fluid, stabbed him and shot him dead."

SEE? THESE KIDS REALLY ARE HARDENED CRIMINALS!

[larrybum]

@Geenu5 And Ashely would be defended by the courts if she had experienced statuatory rape since the laws say she wasn't really old enough to consent. That's a hell of a switch. You're old enough for some things, but not others. My, my.

[larrybum]

@specjackular Got, it's great to hear from a perfect man. Clearly you must find yourself out of place in this Christian country where forgiveness is paramount.

[meg5730]

They may have done horrible things, but doesn't everybody deserve a second chance?! Why all these hurtful comments saying they should die? Being sentenced to life without parole is a fate worse than death...just help them! (Especially these ones sentenced as kids....in 50 years, will they even remember what it is like out there? :(

[ssMajor825]

Not to sound harsh but if You take a life you should lose yours, fair enough in my opinion

[eudragos97]

Wheater this is wright or wrong i don't clearly know. But one thing is certain: 20% of the US population is imprisoned. Including these cases. This country should align to the policies of the rest of the world and of Europe!

[TEDOVSKY]

NICE MUSIC WITH THE VIDEO, BUT I WONDER IF SUCH NICE MUSIC WAS BEING PLAYED AT THE TIME THEY WERE COMMITTING THEIR HORRIFIC CRIMES ON THEIR VICTIMS?

[nightkraawler]

@repelghosts tell your mom , I'm sorry I turned her into a whore, you would know who your daddy is if I hadnt.

[retropop14]

Nathan ybanez needs to redo his trial they were so unfair too him and they said he killed his mum for no reason without asking him why if they did they would have found out his mum and his dad were abusing him since the age of 5 it's so sad :'(

[johnmalcstan]

The worlds youth have been ruined by do gooders that decided discipline was child abuse. People became afraid to discipline their children because of this stupidity.

Is it any wonder that we are where we are now.

[Rudy61287]

Everyone responsible for these Draconian sentences should be sentenced to 20 years each. They were f******' kids when this shit happened, okay. They definitely deserved some time, but not their whole lives locked up in cells.

[dihle12]

do the crime do the time NO EXCUSES