#1. Nathaniel B. (2.5 points) Due prior to class on 1/30
First read the viewpoint section on page 29. Then answer the questions at the end of that section. Please number your answers 1-4).
posted by ProfessorQuinnCCP @ 11:04 AM
Tuesday, January 23, 2007
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30 Comments:
1. I believe that children who are subjected to brutal treatment deserve to be treated psychologically. I don't think that the juvenile justice system is always fair when it comes to handing down sentences for juveniles. There are a lot of juveniles that are abused in many ways, and they do not get the proper psychological treatment.
2. Nathaniel should definitely be held accountable for his actions. His intention was to inflict fear in his teacher. He brought a weapon to school knowing that it was prohibited. He may not have had the intent to shoot or even kill his teacher, but consequences should always be thought out when committing any type of crime.
3. I think that children such as Nathaniel should not be treated as adults. Although he committed an 'adult' crime, Nathaniel should have had treatment/rehabilitative resources available to him at the time of his incarceration.
4. If I was certain that Nathaniel received the proper treatment/rehabilitation, and was cleared by all medical personnel as fully rehabilitated and remorseful for his crime, I believe that I could pardon Nathaniel.
Nathaniel B. Questions:
1. I think this is a yes and no answer. Granted, Nathaniel did take another life by a gunshot so he should serve some form of minor punishment for that. But his life at home was so bad that the degree of his punishment by the juvenile system should be decreased.
2. I think Nathaniel should be partially responsible because his actions are his own. But on another hand, he should not be held responsible because if these actions were taken because of a bad home life, then he shouldn't be held responsible because the family life is beyond his control, especially at his age.
3. I feel that a juvenile of Nathaniel's age or close to it should be tried within an independent juvenile justice system with rehab.
4. I think I would pardon Nathaniel. But if he were to commit another crime of any severity whether it be another murder or simple shoplifting, than I would give him maximum sentencing for whatever crime he committed without parole.
1. No, children that are already punished at home shouldn't have to go through adult punishment. They should be given an opportunity to go talk with a psychiatrist.
2. Both him and his parents should be responsible for what happened
3. Minors who commit such crimes should be rehabilitated, but not sent to an adult prison.
4. Yes, but then I would send Nathaniel to receive some rehabilitation.
1.Children such as Nathaniel who commit crimes as Nathaniel did should have some sort of punishment.I believe it should be passed down by the justice system so they understand the seriousness of their actions.Howevver phsychological treatment should be at the forefront of the Nathaniels rehabilitation.
2.Yes he should be held responsible.Many criminals state they had problems as youngersters.However that does not overshadow the fact that they commited a crime.They must understand and pay for their actions.
3.I dont believe children should be given such harsh sentences.After all they are children.They should be punished for their crimes.But 26 years in prison will only make the child even more mentally disturbed if that is the case.
4.I would pardon Nathaniel after exstensive mental evaluations.I would want to make sure he wouldn't become a criminal in society or continue the cycle of violence supposidly brought upon him by his family.In matters such as this,the things Nathaniel went through could effect him in ways that could make him a criminal as an adult or at elast have violent tendencies.
1. I do not think Nathaniel should have recieved 20 years in prison especially in an adult facility because for one he is not an adult and someone should have looked at the bigger picture 7 years ago. I do think that he should not get a slap on the wrist and it is over either. I believe they meaning the juvenile justice system should finally do some real work and come up with a plan to gradually help the individual.
2. All the people involved in the matter ( nathaniel, his parents,and the victim's family) should receive some mental evaluation and make a decision from there that is beneficial for everyone. Nathaniel should take some accredibility but not all.
3. They should definitely be tried as a juvenile because putting them in an adult prison will only push them into doing more adult like things. Juveniles being sentenced as adults will only make the situation worst than it has to be.
4. I would release him from prison but not pardon him from the crime he committed. I say this because now there are some other issues that need to be addressed because being around adult criminal for seven years straight some of their thinking possibly affected this boy. Some extensive evaluation may bring to light if the adult perception of thing affected Nathaniel negatively or positively.
1. If their is a problem at home killing someone else won't solve that problem at home. Nathaniel never took the time to concern himself with the bigger picture. He murdered a man, someone's husband,father, son. He took his anger and redirected it. He never thought about the consequences for his actions. I'm not saying he wasn't a victim, because he was and need to get help out of the situation that his family put him in, but right is right and wrong is wrong. Nathaniel was victimized in his life but he wasn't punished again, he was punished for the crime of murder
of his teacher.
2.If we can say that he did this because of his home life, maybe the action that needs to be taken is that everyone involved in his abusive situation should share in his punishment.
3.If we tried Nathaniel in a juvenile court and rehabilitated what would be the outcome. he would not be punished for the heartless crime that he committed. He didn't steal and not kill. He cause death and should pay for that. I can't feel sorry for him I feel for the family of his victim.
Maybe if there was something that he could look forward to. He would need something in his life to make him become a productive citizen. He would have to do a complete 360.
1- Just because someone was abused by a parent doesn't give them the right to do what they please. so if they want to act like they can punish who they want and when the what they should do the time fit for the crime.
2- Yes Nathaniel should be held responseible for his actions. Even if his home life caused him pain he still has a mind of hia own.
3- Becuse people are so soft when it comes to a child commiting a serious offense no matter what the child does they don't want them to do time. I do think a child should do the time, maby not with adults, but they need to be put away some where.
1. Yes,a child that has been subjected to brutal treatment should be punished by the justice system. The brutal treatment that the child has been subjected to should be taken into consideration during the sentencing process.The appropiate punishment should address the psychological issues that one might have do the circumstances.
2. No, Nathaniel should not be held responsible for something that he had no control of.
3. Minors should be tried in an independent juvenile justice system oriented to treatment and rehabilitation.There are developmental stages that human beings go through, and adults differ from minors.
4.Yes, I would pardon Nathaniel now that he has served more than seven years.Nathaniel would have to undergo some psychological treatment, considering the fact that he has served his time with adults and not his peers.
1. I feel that children who are subject to brutal treatment such as Nathaniel should be punished again by the justice system if they commited a crime. If you commit a crime you have to be punished. This way you will learn not to commit crimesand if you do then you will go to jail. For some juveniles who been in jail there experience is so negative they will never want to go back to jail. So they stop breaking the law.
2. I feel Nathaniel should be held personally responsible for actions that may in fact been caused by a home life experience beyond his controol. If he started to feel that he can't control his actions than he could have spoken to a councelor. The councelor would have help him deal with his problem instead of acting out and kill his teacher.
3. I feel if you are ten to seventeen and you committed a crime you shouldn't be tried as an adult even if the crime was serious. You are still a young adult and you can't survive in a adult prison. These adult offendors are much older than you are and stronger. Young offendors should be put into a juvenile system where they can receive treatment and rehabilitation.
4. I would pardon Nataniel if he can prove that he has become a better person. I would put him in two experiments situations where the other person would push Nathaniel into a conflict situation. Here is the catch Nathaniel can't have any physical contact or curse at the person. If nathaniel can resolve the conflict in a mature manner than he will be release from prison.
1. I believe that children who are subject to brutal treatment, such as Nathaniel, should not be punished again by the justice system. I think these children should be rehabilitated and given psychological help because those who are subjected to life of crime and mistreatment usually commit crimes against and mistreat others.
2. I do not believe that Nathaniel should be held personally responsible for his actions that may have been caused by a homelife beyond his control. Children who have been raised in a home where they are always being abused or mistreated in some form will think that it is only right for them to react that way when they feel as though they are being harmed or put down more.
3. I think that minor children who commit serious crimes , as Nathaniel did, should not be treated as an adult, but should be tried within an independentjuvenile justice system oriented to treatment and rehabilitation.
4. I would pardon Nathaniel now that he has served seven years in prison because I believe that he has done enough time as a juvenile offender in an adult court system.
1.Children who are subject to brutal treatment such as Nathaniel should be punished in the justice system. By letting children get away with commiting crime is only showing them that the brutal life that they are use to is normal. They have to understand that what they did was wrong. By punishising them they will think more the next time they go and try to commit a crime.
2. Nathaniel should be held responsible for his actions which caused the death of his teacher Mr. G. When a person is that raged and brings a loaded gun into school to kill his teacher and it 'accidentally' goes off and kills him they should be found quilty.
3.Even thou Nanthianl was only 13 years old when he shot and killed his teacher I beleive the courts did the right thing by trying him as an adult. In order to murder someone a person has to be messed up in the head and already in need of mental help. I think because he is so young he should go threw many treatments before he is ready to be released.
4. I would not pardon Nathaniel now that he has only served seven years in prison. His age should not be a factor a person who kills no matter what age he or she is, is still a murder. Nanthainel may not over his rage even if he has completed treatment. Seven years does not serve justice for the teacher who was only doing his job.
1) They are many children who live the same life style as Nathaniel and don’t go to school and kill someone. Yes I think Nathaniel should be punished by the justice system.
2) Yes Nathaniel should be help personally responsible for his actions. Everybody has problems at home. At 13 years old he knew what he was doing when he took that gun to school.
3) At 13 years old you no write from wrong. As I said before he knew what he was doing when he took that gun to school. Yes he should be tried as an adult. But I also think he should get some kind of treatment while he’s in jail.
4) I would not pardon Nathaniel after seven years. He killed another person! Its not like after seven years the person he shot will come back to life.
1. Yes, I think that juveniles who commit these types of crimes should again be punished by the state.They made the wrong choices,it would be wrong of the state to give juveniles like Nathaniel a slap on the hand.
2.Yes, I think he should be healed personally responsibale for his actions because he was the one who dicided to take someones life. No one at home made him shoot his teacher.Regardless of how his home life was he was old enough to seperate home from school. All his teacher wanted to do was help him.
3.In my opinion Nathaniel should not have been tired as an adult. He was only 13 years old. Yes 13 is old enough to know right from wrong, but it is not old enough to understand the consequences of his actions on the long run. I think if he had been 15 or 16 he would not have the same choices.
4.Maybe in another 10 years I waould pardon him, but only if he has under gone so type of rehsbilitation for his problems, and is turely sorry for his actions.
1. Seeing the fact that Nathaniel was abused at home, he may have felt that volience was the only form of justice and this is not the right type of mental thought process at all. I feel that it was in fact fair that Nathaniel was punshied because if he was not this type of crimal behavior would had carried over into abulthood.
2.Nathaniel should definitely be held responsable for his actions because if not then he could not be punshied. Nathaniel had enought sense to apologize for what he have done so he knew in fact that what he have did was wrong
3. Even though Nathaniel commited a horrible crime I feel that he could have got a lesser sentence for his actions. Even though it was an adult crime I feel that maybe it was his cry out for help. I think that before the system put him away they should try to help him. They should take consideration that he did come from a life were voilent behavior.
4.IF Nathaniel hade recieved an evaluation to see how well behaved and how mature he was. If he was found to be fit to re-enter society then yes I would pardon his behavior.
Nathaniel was 13 when he commited this crime this is a seriouse crime at that age he knows better that guns are not permitted in school. but as his lawyer and mother said she was subjected to a lot of abuse at home which in my own view has build up a lot of anger in him that he wants to let out,at the same time imagine where can a 13 years old boy get a gun from.and going about telling his friends he was going to kill the teacher who was just doing his jobi think he should be punished for his action so he knows better next time.
2I dont think Nathaniel should be held personally for action that happen at home he was just a young child who needs to be nurture, train, adn corrected for any negative behaviour at the same time praise for the positive ones but since there is nobody at home to teach him the right paths he was abused he never realy enjoy the children age i think the adults around him should be held accountable in this line.
3.children who commited such a seriouse crime like Nathaniel can be trial in an adult court but with punishements not as brutal as adults depending on their age.
4.Well looking at the past experience and for him to say how sorry he was and also having spend seven years i think I would pardon him but he would have to be on watch or probation for a very long time,and anger management class to keep him out of future trouble.
1. I think children that are subjected to brutal treatment at home should be punished again by the justice system because everyone go threw problems in there life you just need to learn how to control your anger when it come to them. If you do the crime your subjected to do the time regardless of the curcumstances.
2. Nathaniel knew the difference between right and wrong.... he knew to wake up in the morning and to go to class so he also knew in his mind that it was wrong to return home to retrieve the gun which in fact killed Mr. Barry on the day he was suspended from school for throwing water balloons
3. I think children such as Nathaniel should not be treated harshly in adult court because regardless of the extent of the crime he was still a juvenile at the time .... hints juveniles are suppose to get heard in the juvenile justice system that what it made for.
4. I would pardon Nathaniel now that he have served more than 7 years in jail but under a watchful eye however i would let him out with a few years of house arrest and anger management classes weekly to make sure he is properly rehabilitated
1. i believe that youngsters like nathaniel should be punished severely because, being physically brutalized by their parents shouldn't give any kid the opportunity to commit a crime of that nature, which involves "killing an innocent person" also, no matter how justice is served,it won't bring the deaceased back to life, which leaves a scar on the deaceased family forever....
2. he should be held responsible, because, based on his "criminal act," he murdered an innocent being, on the other hand, he should also be punished by his "criminal intent," which also involves, at that tender age, bringing a gun to school..
3. in my opinion, i think he should be tried as an adult, although, humans beings do make mistakes, and the most important issue is how humans learn from their mistakes. nathaniel should be given a "special deterrence," which serves as a rehabilitation, and also avert kids like nathaniel from commiting another brutal crime.
4. i will excuse nathaniel based on his deeds, and also his attitude towards rehabilitation, and lastly, how he has transform into adulthood since the past seven years..
1. I think childern who are being treated brutally at home should be tretaed with some type of counseling. By putting them in prison is not going to help them any,they have to talk to someone about the problems they are having at home and how it is affecting them in their everyday life.
2. Nathaniel should be held responsible for his actions. He brought a gun to school knowing that that was not allowed. He had to think about what he was doing when he decided to take the weapon with him to school.
3. I don't think minor children who commit serious crimes should be treated like an adult. Even though Nathaniel commited an adult crime he still should be treted as a minor. I think treatment and rehabilation should be sentenced to minors who commit serious crimes.
4. I would pardon Nathaniel after serving his seven years. I would also make sure he gets treatment after his release because he still may have some issues with his family and also he was just a minor serving time in an adult prison so he might need treatment for that to.
1. I believe that Nathaniel's punishment was suitable for the crime that was commited. I also think that part of his punishment should have been treatment to help deal with the brutal abuse he suffered at home.
2. If it can be proven during trial that his home life contribute to his violent actions, both he and his parents should be accountable for his actions. They should all be trialed and treated together.
3. Minors who commit a crime should be tried in the juvenile justice system. Within the juvenile justice system, there are laws and guidelines designed to protect and serve the welfare of minors. I believe that with the proper guidance and treatment children can be influenced to change positively.
4. I would only pardon Nathaniel if it was proven during trial that his brutel treatment at home caused his behavior. I would also take into consideration his age at the time of murder and if he was receiving for his actions while in prison.
1. I believe that children should be punished y the justice system because even though they are young, they should stil know some right from wrong. Being in prison for over 20 years for a cime that was committed at the age of 13 is a little extreme.
2. I do not think that Nathaniel should be held responsible because the domestic abuse and alcoholism was nothing of his doing. It was his parents responsibility to be a better role model to their child.
3. I believe Nathaniel's case should have been first held in a Juvenile court, then went to a Juvenile prison until he turned 18, then the courts should have reviewed his case and gave him a sentence in an adult prison.
4. I am not sure if I would pardon Nathaniel or not. There are different factors that need to fall into play, such as, how is his attitude, his record during prison, and maturity. He was guilty of first degree murder, so the factors have to balance out.
1. First of all I think this question is asked in a bias way. Regardless of that, I believe that children that commit serious crimes should be punished no matter what there personal life may have been.
2. I definitely believe that Nate B. should be held responsible for his actions. The fact that that he took a persons life, the most precious thing, he deserves to be punished severely. With consideration of the bad family life I do not believe that he should be sentenced to the death penalty. For the main reason that it is impossible to prove either way whether his home life caused him to pull the trigger.
3. As I said in the last answer I do believe that Nate should be held responsible for his crimes. And the fact that the crime was so extreme and thoughtless I feel that Nate, just as any juvenile should serve adult punishment, and adult time.
4. No, I would not pardon Nate now or ever. He deserves no special treatment. His original sentencing would remain.
1. I think that children who are subjected to brutal treatment should still be punished by the justice system. Not being held accountable for their actions will make it hard for them to learn from their mistakes. That being said, I feel that the sentence Nathaniel received was excessive and should not be given to any juvenile at the age of 13.
2. Nathaniel should be held responsible for the life that he took. It is sad that he had a tough home life, but letting him off without punishment sends the wrong message to other juveniles in the same situation. What will prevent another juvenile from committing murder if there is no threat of punishment?
3. I feel that juvenile cases should not be held in adult court. Giving young people such as Nathaniel 28 years in prison shows that our justice system doesn't put enough hope in their rehabilitation. All juveniles should be given the chance to change their ways through psychiatric help or maturity. Holding their trials in adult court takes that chance away.
4. I remember watching this case live on Court T.V. and I was shocked when the verdict was read. That is an extraordinary amount of time to give a 13 year old. As governor, I would give him a pardon on the condition that he demonstrates a clear mental state to a psychiatrist.
1. I believe that children such as Nathaniel, should not be punished again by the justice system. It is not right these children needs some kind of psychological help. In order to help these children you have to get to the root of the problem. When you just punish these children in the system you are just making them worse. We have to give children like Nathaniel a chance to rehabilitate because I know he went through some type of psycological problems just knowing that he killed his teacher.
2. Nathaniel should take some responsbility for his actions, but he should not have to serve a 20 year sentence in an adult prison. Especially, when their is proof that the way a minor think is not like an adult. He should be punished but his punishment should include alot psycological treatments.
3. Children who commit serious crimes like Nathaniel should not be treated as an adult. The main reason is because they are not adults you can still save many of these children. We need a strong independent juvenile justice system oriented to treatment and rehabilitation. There should be more programs for at risk children so we can prevent or try to prevent these types of things from happening. Even if we have the programs we need to let parents know about these programs so they can know there is help.
4. I would pardon Nathaniel because he did serve seven years. I know he took a life but he also lost his childhood. Now that he served some time they need to put together a plan that would focus on rehabilitation. This experience that Nathaniel has been through would change his life forever. The rest of his life he would have to live with the fact he took somebody's life. He is going to need alot of psycological help. He needs to find a way to deal with it and learn how to move on and become a better person.
1. Certain children should be punished again by the justice system and some should not. A mans life was taken for doing his job, leaving behind family relatives, wife and children even. The way the situation had taken place futhers the fact that children in Nathaniel's situation should be punished for 15-20 years. Its possible people like Nathaniel will change, but Mr. G's situation has not.
2. No. I beleive Nathaniel can not be held personally responsible for actions caused at home that he had no control over, especialy at 13. What was he suppose to do? Run away?
3. Yea sure why not. Lets try something new. The old way is not working. See what happens with Nathaniel
4. If I truly beleived that Nathaniel was fully rehabilitated, treated, recieved positive feedback on him, I could see giving him a pardon after 10 years.
1. I think that children who are subject to brutal treatment should be punished in some way with effective consequences. It is also very true that psychologically it can alter the mind when making descions.
2. That is a very hard question to answer. It would definelty need additional investigation because if his actions were a result of his home life then maybe his parents should take some responsibility in the crime.
3. I personally think that sentencing a child such a long sentence is not productive in any way. Nathaniel was only 13 years old, his mind was not fully developed, and it will only get worse as long as he stays in prison. On the other hand he didi kill someone and that is the bottom line. Reality is some type of punishment should be given.
4..I would have to give him plenty of evalutions and interviews. I would want to make sure that he has learned his lesson. It's a really hard question because it is not fair to the adults that have been in jail longer the Nathaniel.
1.I think that Nathaniel and any othar children subject to brutal treatment should be punished in some way by the justice system. He needs some sort of punishment to help or rehibilitate him.
2. Nathaniel should be held personally responsible for his actions no matter what caused it. If his action was prmeditated then he knew what he was doing..
3. I think that children 13 and younger shouldnt be treated as an adult.Children act off of feeling and emotions intead of thinking. Treatment and rehibilitaion would be a better choice for a child.
4. I would definitly pardon Nathaniel now that he served more then seven years in prison. I would have to say that he served enough time and should be i na better mind state. Then again he would have to have the proper treatment because prison can corrupt a persons mind as well.
1. Yes. If we make excuses for one person, we would find ourselves making excuses for everyone. 2. Yes. I believe that everyone should be held accountable for their own actions. 3. I think that if a child commits an adult act then they should receive an adult punishment. 4. no. If he was sentenced to 20 years, then he should serve 20 years.
1. I believe that abuse and/or neglect in the home can be contributing factors for why children act out in aggressive or violent manners. Oftentimes children mimic what they see at home or use the anger and frustration from their family lives as a tool to inflict pain on others. In minor cases of vandalism, petty theft or assault (where neither parties involved are seriously injured) I would openly protest to the youth being punished again by the judicial system; however, I would emphasize the importance of psychological testing, family and individual counseling and rehabilitation. Nathaniel's case involves intentional murder; therefore, I would not be easily persuaded to fight against keeping him out of the criminal justice system. Although he expressed remorse for his actions, the fact remains that he bragged about murdering his teacher prior to the incident, thus proving premeditation.
2. I have sympathy for the abuse Nathaniel suffered at home, yet I still hold him personally accountable for his actions. Nathaniel displayed anger on several occasions: once relating to his failing mark in English and his suspension for throwing water ballons and another time, resulting in the death of his teacher, concerning his failed attempt to talk to two classmates. It is apparent that Nathaniel needs help managing his anger, a behavioral trait which he may have developed from his unhealthy home life, but that revelation is not sufficient substantial evidence to support absolving him from his debt to society.
3. Regardless of age, I firmly believe that youths who commit serious offenses, such as Nathaniel's premeditated murder, should be tried in adult court. If necessary, I would recommend psychological evaluation and counseling as an added stipulation of their sentence but I would not be lenient on the amount of prison time. In my opinion, premeditated actions, such as plotting a murder, should be punished to the full extent of the law. If that means certifying a juvenile, than so be it.
4. No, I would not pardon Nathaniel. I would recommend that he serve all of his sentence.
1) The only way that I would re-convict a child like Nathaniel is if the person shows no remorse or even except the responsibility for what they have done.
2) No, I do think that Nathaniel should be held responsible for what goes on in his home because, he shouldn't have been exposed to it. His parents knew that the living condition was taking an effect on Nataniel, but still kept him exposed to it.
3) Nathaniel should've been tested for his mental state at the time, and if it proved to be fine, then yes he should have been tried as an adult.
4) No I wouldn't pardon Nathaniel for the crime, but I will defently give him a chance to prove the state wrong about who he truly is.
1.No, I think that the child should be tested for mental enstability before giving the final punishment.
2.Yes in a certain aspect he should be punished for his actions because even though we have problems at home this is not an open gate to take your fustration out on someone.
3.In Nathaniel's case I would say it should have been tried because of his age at that age your are at a place in your life where you are unaware of the consiquences that you can face if you do certain things.
4.I would first have to check his history of imprisonmnet. I would find out how he acted while he was in prison. Then I would check his mental stage. If this things are average then I would galdly take that in the consideration
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