LogFAQs > #952530221

ParanoidObsessive posted...

Even putting aside the fact that you know literally nothing about this case other than what you've seen online

Likewise, I could preface every single response to you with, "granted, that you have no idea WTF you're talking about," but it just seemed kinda rude, you know?

and don't actually know whether the two in question are remorseful, defiant, apologetic, callous, confused, mentally unstable, or any number of other factors that would influence whether or not a prosecutor would push for a stronger conviction, there's always a case to be made (and one that absolutely WOULD have been made if they HAD been convicted of a major sentence) that simply throwing them in prison accomplishes absolutely nothing of value other than pretty much guaranteeing that they likely come out the other side of the system as hardened criminals.

They already are hardened criminals!
And I love how you only look at what is useful for the two criminals, that "nothing of value" can be gained for them by a prison sentence.
What about justice for the victim and his family? I guess justice is of no value....

And why are you just assuming the decision to not charge the 15 year old as an adult or put either in prison at all is sound, as if prosecutors are always infallible and there's never been cases of them going overly harsh or lenient on certain people, let alone more heinous acts like withholding evidence from the defense?

Most teenagers have shit judgment in general. In this case, it's not that hard to argue that the entire situation escalated far beyond what they originally intended. The US justice system isn't a simple consequentialist system - intent matters almost as much as outcome. That can be a HUGE mitigating factor in this case (even for adults, it can be the difference between 10 years and 100 years).

It's not the difference between 10 or 100 years of prison in this case, though. Or even 2 vs. 20. It's 0 vs. anything.

And that's even ignoring the statement in that article itself that flat-out says that the 13-year old couldn't legally be prosecuted as an adult even if everyone involved wanted to, because existing DC law doesn't allow it (because again, children that young are by definition not considered to be mentally capable of understanding the consequences of their actions to a sufficient degree necessary to be fully culpable for their criminal actions).

The guy was clinging to the door frame and THEN they sped off.
Even the 13 year old should know damn well how dangerous that is, let alone the 15 year old.

They're still probably going to be incarcerated for years. They'll just get passed into psych and social rehab programs rather than jail.

They're going to be held until age 21, and not in jail (so probably juvenile detention).
Which...makes it sound like the 13 year old is actually getting the harsher punishment, ironically.