From the New York Center for Juvenile Justice: “A 16-year old can’t vote, serve on a jury, drink, attend an R-rated movie, or get a flu shot without parental consent. But she can be tried as an adult and sent to adult prison.” Also check out the very moving video.
The situation is even more extreme in Louisiana, where children as young as 14 can be tried as adults if they have been charged with very violent crimes, see La. Children’s Code art. 857. Court Watch NOLA volunteers see children and teenagers sentenced as adults – often to years and decades in adult prisons – every day. Often for very violent crimes, but it still raises the question: Is this fair?
