In 2007 and 2008 alone, Harris County juvenile judges transferred 160 teens’ cases to the adult system — more than nine of the largest urban counties in Texas combined, according to a Chronicle analysis of statewide certifications by county.
Out of probably around two, maybe three thousand cases filed on juveniles in Harris County, 160 is a relatively low number.
The article uses two poster cases to support its argument. The first case is a 15-year old.
One of the [sic] those charged with capital murder at 15, Robert T. Brown, pleaded guilty in May after admitting he had shot a man who hired his 17-year-old sister and him for a so-called sex party. The guilty plea came after Brown, described as mentally challenged and unable to read well, spent more than a year in Harris County jail, where he was badly beaten, family members said.
First of all, only certain circumstances make murder a capital crime in Texas. Click here to read the Texas definition of capital murder. So, what occurred here to make this capital murder, the article doesn’t say. Second, the sister is also being charged with capital murder yet the article doesn’t say what her role in the crime was. Third, on a side note, neither of these people is eligible for the death penalty, nor would they have been under the old law before the Supreme Court decision. Fourth, who described the 15-year old as mentally challenged? Fifth, the family claims he was beaten in jail. Is there evidence to support this? By whom was the child beaten? By jailers? By other inmates? There are too many holes in the paragraph given by the Chronicle that suggests we are not being given the whole story.
The second case, which seems like the article is trying to downplay is a 16-year old:
A 16-year-old special education student currently faces a potential sentence of life without parole for capital murder, though some witnesses described the crime as an accident. The boy, who had no criminal history, attacked his older brother with a kitchen knife for threatening a stray cat. During the struggle in their crowded apartment, the boys’ 2-year-old nephew received a single, but fatal wound, court records show. The teen was certified as an adult, though psychiatric evaluations said he functions at a third- to fifth-grade level.
In an attempt to tug at heartstrings the article quotes “The result: “virtual destruction” of dozens of juveniles who are dumped and damaged in adult prisons and “could otherwise turn their lives around,” claims nonprofit Texas Appleseed…” Reality is by the time these kids come to the criminal justice system for the more serious crimes they are severely damaged. Ask juvenile probation workers for some of their stories. A common denominator is the family of the kids. Many of these families are criminals themselves and raised their kids to be criminals like them. These kids are taught they don’t have to accept responsibility for their actions. They are taught they don’t have to earn what others work for and they are entitled to other peoples’ things. They are also taught that the juvenile system will be soft on them and when they turn 17, their criminal records are sealed and can only be opened under special circumstances. Basically, at 17 they get a fresh start.
Another sad reality is that juveniles can be just as deadly, if not deadlier than adults. Some of most vicious crimes have been committed by juveniles and the juvenile system is not capable of handling such a person.
