LogFAQs > #961060856

Look, Im not saying a 14 year old doesnt at a base level know its wrong to kill someone, and Im not saying there should be no punishment

Im just pushing back against the visceral response of let this piece of shit rot in jail or whatever.

cant we summon an ounce of empathy for a child, who probably grew up in poverty surrounded by crime, who by age 14 was committing armed robbery. Do you people know 14 year olds? Do you remember being one yourself? You dont have a fully formed brain at that age, youre not making good decisions (although obviously most poor decisions by 14 year olds dont end in a killing). He probably didnt ever even plan on using the knife but reacted when the person fought back (which to be clear she had every right to do when being robbed). This was a child without a good support system reacting to the environment they were being raised in

all Im saying is this is tragic all around; and with our legal system theyll be in the system for life for something they did as a child (which should never be a goal of the prison system)

sidenote: Im sure this has something to do with charging 13 and 14 year olds as adults: https://www.forbes.com/sites/janicegassam/2021/04/22/how-the-adultification-bias-contributes-to-black-trauma/?sh=2c47e8ab2b08