General Discussion

FarCenter

(19,429 posts)

37. Yes, a male teenager

Sat Nov 23, 2013, 06:48 PM

Nov 2013

By 12 a boy is capable of understanding the moral and legal consequences of basic crimes like murder, theft, rape, assault, kidnapping, and so forth.

These are basic criminal offenses that have been long been understood by unlettered and even primitive societies.

You are not talking about complex ethical conundrums such as occur in professional or financial activities.

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41 replies

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What is the youngest age at which it should be possible to sentence someone to life without parole? [View all] Nye Bevan Nov 2013 OP

2 Throd Nov 2013 #1

I put I don't anyone gopiscrap Nov 2013 #2

I don't think that combination should ever be done. HereSince1628 Nov 2013 #3

I said never, but if it must be done, can we at least agree that brain development ends in the early Mass Nov 2013 #4

I was kicked off a Jury one time for asking young defendant's age dem in texas Nov 2013 #5

The age of discretion begins historically at 7, but is well enough developed by 13 FarCenter Nov 2013 #6

do you have children? Warren Stupidity Nov 2013 #29

Yes. FarCenter Nov 2013 #31

you have raised a teenager and in particular a male teenager Warren Stupidity Nov 2013 #34

Yes, a male teenager FarCenter Nov 2013 #37

It's odd, but a life sentence gets less punitive treestar Nov 2013 #7

Society has a problem here. If it doesnt think that a young person has the wisdom at 20 not to stevenleser Nov 2013 #8

Good point. When you are 20, you think of 40 as unimaginably old. (nt) Nye Bevan Nov 2013 #9

What if you have committed multiple murders? Yo_Mama Nov 2013 #33

To me Aerows Nov 2013 #10

Incarceration until age 50 may be enough if the circumstances are not aggravated. FarCenter Nov 2013 #12

Like I said Aerows Nov 2013 #13

I didn't select any of the options. LuvNewcastle Nov 2013 #11

We need more options Aerows Nov 2013 #15

Before they are even born The Straight Story Nov 2013 #14

Interesting to see who would have no problem with sentencing kids to life in prison. darkangel218 Nov 2013 #16

So the fools who think trying someone below 18 as an adult.... Logical Nov 2013 #17

I like knowing who voted 14 or below because I can then realize why they post other things. Sick! nt Logical Nov 2013 #18

+ Warren Stupidity Nov 2013 #35

I would say 12. MicaelS Nov 2013 #19

Wow, you scare me worse than them. n-t Logical Nov 2013 #36

18 Iggo Nov 2013 #20

At the age the crime is committed. 655351 Nov 2013 #21

Crimes like starting a war based on a lie, perhaps? Fumesucker Nov 2013 #23

Well of course. 655351 Nov 2013 #24

welcome to DU gopiscrap Nov 2013 #40

Certainly no younger than the age of consent, whatever that might be Fumesucker Nov 2013 #22

I'm not in favor of LWOP for juvenile offenders... NaturalHigh Nov 2013 #25

we need to make a decision as to what we consider "adult" La Lioness Priyanka Nov 2013 #26

^^^ This. Iggo Nov 2013 #28

human brains do not finish growing until the mid 20's especially the part that controls liberal_at_heart Nov 2013 #27

Perhaps if we 2naSalit Nov 2013 #30

Based on their cognitive ability. Rex Nov 2013 #32

Depends if there's a system that would permit lifetime detainment if they're geek tragedy Nov 2013 #38

I passed, because I'm really ambivalent about this. LWolf Nov 2013 #39

I could very well be wrong about this but for the present time, I believe some people.... BlueJazz Nov 2013 #41