04_03_juvenile_law_reflection

Juvenile Law Reflection
Part One: Use complete sentences to respond to each of the following questions:
1. Why is juvenile law separated from the adult criminal justice system?
Explain. Juvenile law is distinct from the adult criminal justice system
because young offenders often lack the same level of mental and emotional
maturity as adults. The juvenile justice system focuses on helping young
people rehabilitate and reintegrate into society instead of just punishing
them.
2. What are the primary goals in the juvenile justice system? Explain. The
main objectives of the juvenile justice system are to help young people
change for the better and to reintegrate them into society, while also
ensuring the safety of the community.
3. What are some differences between the juvenile justice system and the
adult justice system? Explain. The juvenile and adult justice systems have
some key differences. For one, juvenile courts don’t have juries like adult
courts do. Also, the main goal in juvenile justice is to rehabilitate young
offenders instead of just punishing them. Additionally, the language used in
these two systems is different.
4. Identify one important court decision from the lesson and explain its
significance to the juvenile law system. The important Supreme Court
decision in Roper v. Simmons (2005) declared that it is unconstitutional to
give the death penalty for crimes committed by individuals under 18. This
ruling emphasizes the significance of rehabilitation rather than punishment
in juvenile law.
Part Two: Now, you be a state supreme court justice. Read the scenario in the
lesson, and then answer the question:
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 Was it proper for the prosecution to charge M.S.A. as an adult? In at least
one complete paragraph, explain why it was or was not, as well as what
sentence M.S.A. should receive. Support your ruling with information from
the lesson and the scenario.
At age 15 years, the petitioner "M.S.A." was living full time with their father
and stepmother. The father was away at a work event. M.S.A. began to
argue with the stepmother after returning home late, which had become a
regular source of conflict in the family. The argument escalated to the point
that M.S.A. tried to leave the home. When the stepmother blocked the
door holding a baseball bat, M.S.A. grabbed the bat from her and began
attacking her with it. The stepmother attempted to use her phone. M.S.A.
knocked the phone from her hands and continued to attack her until she
lost consciousness. Instead of calling for help, M.S.A. then tried to cover up
what happened. Police arrived while M.S.A. was trying to hide the bat. The
stepmother died from the injuries.
M.S.A. was charged with murder in adult criminal court via direct file. In
their state, the statutory exclusion for murder was for juveniles aged 16
years and above. At trial, M.S.A. (at that time known as the "defendant")
claimed self-defense. They said that the stepmother had been abusive in
the past and that no one believed M.S.A. about prior incidents, including
the father. M.S.A. says that knocking the phone away was out of panic and
fear that the police would only arrest M.S.A., not the stepmother. The
prosecution noted there was no evidence of investigation of the
stepmother for possible abuse, nor did anyone report witnessing abusive
behavior. The jury convicted M.S.A., who then appealed the ruling. The
state court of appeals upheld the conviction.
M.S.A. is currently in prison serving a mandatory life sentence for their

murder conviction. For M.S.A., the sentence includes a possibility of parole
after serving 40 years. An adult would have had no option for parole.
Regardless, the legal team for M.S.A. has petitioned the state supreme
court for relief, claiming that the case should not have been tried in adult
criminal court. They say that the sentence was "cruel and unusual" for a 15-

year-old without the reasoning ability of a grown adult, and that a juvenile
court would not have set such a long period before parole eligibility.
Related laws: State statutory exclusion in murder for defendants age 16

years and above; state statute allowing direct file to adult court for younger
juveniles charged with murder; state statute mandating a sentence of life
without possibility of parole for a murder conviction in criminal court;
Federal Juvenile Delinquency Code allowing government to transfer a
juvenile to adult court for certain offenses like violent crime if the juvenile
is at least 15 years old.
Related excerpt from the Constitution: The Eighth Amendment reads

"Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel
and unusual punishments inflicted."
Related ruling: In Miller v. Alabama (2012), SCOTUS ruled that mandatory

life without parole is unconstitutional for a juvenile offender.
The prosecution might claim that there was premeditation because of

the ongoing conflict and MSA's actions, while MSA's defense could focus on
the domestic issues involved. Since MSA is only 15, the law says he
shouldn't be tried as an adult, and he could have a chance for parole. The
jury's decision and the appellate court's choice to support it indicate that
the law and the situation are quite complicated.


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Juvenile Law Reflection

Unless Otherwise Noted All Content © 2022 Florida Virtual School.

M.S.A. is currently in prison serving a mandatory life sentence for their

Unless Otherwise Noted All Content © 2022 Florida Virtual School.

Related laws: State statutory exclusion in murder for defendants age 16

Related excerpt from the Constitution: The Eighth Amendment reads

Related ruling: In Miller v. Alabama (2012), SCOTUS ruled that mandatory

The prosecution might claim that there was premeditation because of

Unless Otherwise Noted All Content © 2022 Florida Virtual School.

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