Heredia 1

Maddie Heredia

Ms. Sanchez

ERWC Period 4

07 March, 2017

Juveniles, Life with Parole

As young adults, considering the brain is not fully developed, the body is not matured,

insecurities and peer pressure may rise, influencing impulsive decisions and harmful actions;

Every juvenile should be given the chance for life with parole.

Juveniles are young, immature, and not fully developed and neither is their reasoning

(Lundstrom). Kids are different, and studies show the human brain is not fully developed until

age 25. As a child, it is easy to make decisions based on impulse or peer pressure. In Kenneths

story, he claimed he was pressured into robbing the hotel because he felt he had to protect his

mother (Kenneth). Being 13-14 years old making that decision was not in his best interest

because it resulted in time in prison. Kenneth went to rehab, furthered his education, helped the

community, and also reached out to his victims for a sincere apology (kenneth). The judge

looked past all of his recovery actions and expressed they did not wash out the consequences he

needed to face for his actions. Unfortunately, Kenneth was not released or given the opportunity

of probation (kenneth). Punishing juveniles with life without parole is unfair and cruel.

Committing the crime of murder is never justified, although these children were told that they

could never change and that no one cared what became of them. They were denied access to

education and rehabilitation programs and left without help or hope (Garinger). Denying the

access to education and rehab programs to a juvenile is unfair; everyone deserves the opportunity
 Heredia 2

for education. Although these children chose to make harmful decisions, the motivation for

education and rehab to become a better person is a quality that should not be brought down.

Juveniles in prison spoke out, sharing their emotions of regret for the decisions they chose to

make when they were younger (young kids video). The actions these juveniles take often haunt

them. Most juveniles would say that knowing the consequences they are facing, they would have

chosen to make smarter decisions or surrounded themselves with different people. Garinger

stated young people are biologically different from adults. Brain imaging studies reveal that the

regions of adolescent brain responsible for controlling thought, actions and emotions are not

fully developed (Garinger). The adolescent brain not being fully developed, can lead to

juveniles making decisions out of impulse, unbalanced emotions, and negative peer pressure.

In opposing views, committing the crime of murder at any age is unjustified and there

should be no question to life without parole. Lundstrom says its why they cant smoke, or

drink, or go to R rated movies without our ok. Its when they dont vote. Its why they have

curfews, its why we fret over their internet access and fuss about driving privileges

(Lundstrom). Some would argue that being too young to make adult decisions, a juvenile should

not be able to be tried or treated as an adult in prison. The CA JJ Report says that some juveniles

were allowed probation and early release home with supervision; (CA JJ Report) justifying the

thought that not all people change. It takes one time to make a decision that risk someones life.

Juveniles lack control of their surroundings, causing them to make harsh decisions resulting in

consequences that should be kept for their actions (Cohen). Making the decisions to commit a

crime, the consequences that follow should be owned up to.

 Heredia 3

As a part of adolescence, juveniles face insecurities, confusion, and many obstacles

leading to harsh decisions and actions that could potentially ruin a life. There is always room for

people to change, mature, and grow into the person they wish to be and every juvenile should be

given the chance of life with parole to have the opportunity to express themselves and their

changes to have a better life.

 Heredia 4

Works Cited