Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community - View Single Post - Why does the US gov. have the option to prosecute a 14yo as an adult?

analog · 10-12-2007, 01:52 PM

Because there are some crimes which demonstrate a level of intricate, careful, or heavily time-consuming planning or use of adult-level intellect or resolve which make no difference as to whether a person is 14 or 40.

The reason minors aren't tried as adults is not simply a matter of the number of years they've been around. Minors are not considered adults because they're not considered to be capable of adult-level reasoning, intellect, mental acuity, and full knowledge of the impact of their decisions.

When, however, a minor exhibits such adult-level abilities and full knowledge of the impact of their decisions- like planning on getting a gun and killing people and blowing things up, and taking the time to carefully plan an attack to kill people and manufacture incendiary devices to that end- then they are not acting as a child, they are acting as an adult.

Minors are also able to emancipate themselves of their parents if they can demonstrate to a judge that they are capable of mature, adult-level thought and motivations.

Minors are more than capable of having adult-level intellect and reasoning. This doesn't mean it'll always be applied for good purposes, just the same as in actual adults.

10-12-2007, 01:52 PM	#34 (permalink)
analog Banned	Because there are some crimes which demonstrate a level of intricate, careful, or heavily time-consuming planning or use of adult-level intellect or resolve which make no difference as to whether a person is 14 or 40. The reason minors aren't tried as adults is not simply a matter of the number of years they've been around. Minors are not considered adults because they're not considered to be capable of adult-level reasoning, intellect, mental acuity, and full knowledge of the impact of their decisions. When, however, a minor exhibits such adult-level abilities and full knowledge of the impact of their decisions- like planning on getting a gun and killing people and blowing things up, and taking the time to carefully plan an attack to kill people and manufacture incendiary devices to that end- then they are not acting as a child, they are acting as an adult. Minors are also able to emancipate themselves of their parents if they can demonstrate to a judge that they are capable of mature, adult-level thought and motivations. Minors are more than capable of having adult-level intellect and reasoning. This doesn't mean it'll always be applied for good purposes, just the same as in actual adults. Last edited by analog; 10-12-2007 at 01:59 PM..