Should juvenile offenders be tried, sentenced, and jailed as adults? : Commentary by Gaybrielle LeAnn Gant

Gaybrielle LeAnn Gant

Should juvenile offenders be tried, sentenced, and jailed as adults?

In recent news the world learned about the tragic beating death of Derrion Albert. In correlation to the devastating and senseless murder, cell phone footage of the incident has surfaced. The graphic video of the Thursday afternoon violent episode, which took place outside of a high school on the South Side of Chicago, emerged on local news stations over the weekend, and has been broadcasted on many media outlets across the world. The shaky and garbled video footage shows a group of teens viciously kicking and striking 16-year-old Derrion Albert, who was and innocent bystander, walking to a bus stop after being dismissed from school. Albert was inadvertently caught up in the mob of street fighting as he was walking by. Albert, a sophomore honor roll student at Christian Fenger Academy High School with no history of violence or gang affiliation was struck multiple times in the head with splintered railroad ties, he was punched and kicked as well as stomped multiple times by numerous members of the mob, even after he was knocked to the ground. On Monday, murder charges were brought against four Chicago youths who were involved in the violent events that took place last Thursday, which led to the tragic death of Derrion Albert. Prosecutors charged Eugene Bailey, 18, Silvonus Shannon, 19, Eugene Riley, 18, and Eric Carson, 16, all four teenagers from Chicago with fatally beating Albert. Each suspect was charged with first-degree murder, which in Chicago is a minimum of 25 years with possible life sentence.

According to the American Bar association, Juvenile courts usually hear cases involving persons between the ages of ten and eighteen. (The upper age may be lower in some states.) If the prosecution charges an older juvenile with a particularly serious or violent offense, the district or prosecuting attorney may request that an adult court try the juvenile as an adult. In some states, juveniles fourteen or older and charged with serious acts like murder, rape or armed robbery are handled in adult courts unless the judge transfers them to juvenile court.

According to a study done by The Sentencing Project on Juveniles in Adult Prisons, the research found that Juveniles who receive custodial sentences in the criminal court usually serve their sentences in adult prisons and jails. In June 1998, more than 6,500 juveniles were held in adult jails either tried or awaiting trial as adults. The 36 states supplying data to the National Corrections Reporting Program report that, juveniles accounted for 5,600 (2%) of new court commitments to state adult prisons in 1996.9. Of 15,620 youth under the age of 19 serving sentences in adult prisons at the end of 1997, 1,484 were under age 16.

On the topic of Juvenile offenders being tried, sentenced and jailed as adults, Researcher and Journalist Mike Allen claims that “report after report have concluded that trying teens as adults does nothing to deter crime -- and that sending teens to adult prison makes them more likely to become repeat offenders”. While I agree that sentencing a youth offender to a term of punishment to be carried out with adult offenders may continue the devastating cycle of violence in our culture, I do not agree that juvenile offenders should receive a smaller sentence or easier punishment on the basis of the affects of cross imprisonment. Instead I would argue that the justice system of America must evolve to adequately evaluate and implement punishment and reform that is conducive to the development of juvenile offenders. Youth crime in America is becoming an unavoidable circumstance that is poisoning our culture and hindering many of our youth from the ability to pursue fulfilled and successful lives. Just as Derrion Albert was an innocent bystander who loss his life to reckless and senseless acts of violence, our world has lost its viable claim of goodness to acts of hate against humanity.

Something must be done… Not tomorrow and not when the government is adequately over arguing the cases of health care reform, unjust politics and the influx of income made and redistributed illegally and unethically. Our world MUST focus on our youth. TODAY, right now! We are loosing the right to continue to call ourselves ethical and moral beings, when everyday, another youth, another child, when one more innocent life is lost to violence.

So again the question arises, Should juvenile offenders be tried, sentenced, and jailed as adults? I would argue that a Juvenile offender should be charged in compliance to their competency of their actions and in a way that healthily reestablishes the concept of reform in their lives. The death of Derrion Albert is tragic, painful and devastating. The reality that the four youth that killed him, did so without hesitation or regard to his right to life is a moral failure. Not only by them, but also by the entire community of America that continues to reproduce and facilitate the promotion of violence, and crime without hesitation.

It is argued that allowing juvenile offenders to be tried, sentenced, and jailed as adults challenges the morals and ethics of our American culture. However, this argument also challenges the moral and ethical actions of all Americans who continually stand by and allow this epidemic of senseless murder and violence to continue. Who are we as human beings, where is the resilience of compassion that used to exists within our country?

"Apparently, if a teen-ager is locked up with an adult offender, he or she gets more than just a cell mate, the teen gets a role model." according to Vincent Schiraldi, the Department of Youth Rehabilitation Services Director in DC. So I ask, where are our ROLE MODELS who will step forward to redefine the case for our humanity and take back the cause of raising our youth in an environment where murder, gangs, and crime is not their way of life.

The issue of trying juveniles as adults, sentencing them and jailing them involves a range of legal, ethical, developmental, emotional, and pragmatic issues that need to be discussed. Issues that we, as a community MUST face together, outside of blame, regardless of cultural differences or backgrounds, aside from income and educational standards. Trying juveniles as adults calls into question our ability to provide a stable environment of humanity in which they can grow and learn, and reproduce actions of positivity and not destruction.

This is a call for the world’s Role Models…when will you stand up and lead our children…

Should juvenile offenders be tried, sentenced, and jailed as adults? Response by Isis Rose

I really enjoyed your post.

I think the real issue in America is that it is difficult to distinguish children from adults in general. If you look at a sample of American teenagers, chances are, most of them are partaking in "adult" activities--sex, pregnancy, alcohol use, crime, etc. If a teenager or young person is adult enough to participate in adult activities then they should face the consequences of those actions.

It is tragic what happened to Derrion. I think anybody who intentionally takes a life MUST receive the maximum sentence. Arguments that legal patrons make is that children or teens that are tried as adults become repeat offenders or find incarcerated “role models”. If this is true, I agree with Gaybrielle that more programs need to be implemented for young people in order to prevent crime in the first place. We need to establish stronger communities where young people won’t have to resort to violence and crime and take the higher road the way Derrion did.

Also, I believe 18 and 19 are appropriate ages to consider someone an adult, especially for capital crimes. Homocide, grand theft, rape, are examples of crimes for which I strongly believe 18 and 19 year olds should be tried as adults. If the African American community does not like the idea of our young men incarcerated and tried as an adult at 18 or 19, it’s time for us to start making some real changes in our communities.

On the other hand, youth under the age of 16 should be tried in juvenile courts but serve the same amount of time as they would in an adult prison if they commit a capital crime.

Gaybrielle is right. We HAVE failed as a country. This crime against an innocent teenager is not an isolated incident. Chicago has lost hundreds of young people in just a couple of years to violence. At Spelman, we just lost a student to senseless violence. Whether or not the young perpetrator is tried as an adult, ultimately it is not the legal system that is going to uplift our youth. We cannot expect the government or the media or Barack Obama to eradicate the violence that has been plaguing our communities for decades. It is time for us to hold each other accountable, take back our neighborhoods, and not feel helpless against young terrorism.

Some Women, On Occasion

by Chelsea Johnson

                At Spelman, I often hear complaints about the lack of financial aid given out to students, our meager resources, and our deficiency in technology. These problems are widely known and universally regarded as issues in our college community. However, there is much less passionate discourse on the importance of student and alumnae giving.  Schools that have an abundance of resources acquire them because their alumni give back. If we were to increase not simply the amount of money Spelmanites give back to the school, but the percentage of us who donate, our school would better be able to address our aforementioned concerns.

                I realize that Spelman women feel that they have already had to pay enough tuition to Spelman in the first place. Spelman is expensive. Students already have enough loans, and the recession is not making anything any easier. However, if every student gave just one dollar, potential donors would see that Spelman women value the educations that they are receiving.  Our giving encourages outside organizations to give as well.  Outside donors want to give to schools where graduates express confidence and gratitude to their institution themselves. We can’t convince people who have real money to use it to benefit Spelman if they see through the numbers that we as Spelmanites are making almost no effort whatsoever to uplift our own school.

                Spelman has encouraged its students and graduates to give back through the “Every Woman, Every Year” campaign with some success. This program promoted annual giving as opposed donating only during reunion years.  This initiative increased alumnae giving from 16% in 2006 to 28% in 2007 according to reports by the school. I am excited about these results, but they also make me wonder what is in the minds of the remaining 72% of alumnae. 72% of Spelmanites are not sufficiently grateful for the preparation Spelman gave them for their lives to remember to send in some funds. 72% of Spelmanites do not care enough about the Spelman legacy to want to ensure it for their children. 72% of Spelmanites do not appreciate their education enough to give just one dollar back.

                Other schools have the ability to meet financial need and reward talented students with scholarships because their graduates give back. As much pride, love, and gratitude we as Spelman women have for our school, it saddens me that many of us do not donate.  It is not the size of the donation that proves our love; it’s the existence of the donation in the first place.  We should recognize that it is only through proper funding that we can ensure that the Spelman experience will be available for women of color for generations to come.

ALL STUDENTS, ALL THE TIME (RESPONSE)by Nia Newton

Chelsea makes a great point throughout her arguments, and although I would love to play devil’s advocate, I really cannot. I totally support her claim. Spelman College does receive a lot of complaints about the lack of funding that it has for its students. We cannot as a whole blame it on the school. This is private education; therefore we rely on the donations that people give to the school. So my response is not that women of Spelman should not give back, but how do we promote giving back. I believe that the “Every Woman, Every Year” campaign has done an outstanding job; however, it is not enough. I believe that it is the job of current students to start calling for some donations.

Do telemarketers get you upset? I know that I find them annoying, but I also know that when they call I listen for the reason why they have to call, then I hang up. Maybe as Spelman College Students we need to volunteer calling alumnae and asking for donations. We could set it up the same way that we set up the calling for Spel-Bound girls. It is the same idea, different audience. We need to work together to obtain funds for our fellow Spelman sisters.

Homecoming booths are another great idea towards raising funds. We all know that there is a large amount of alumnae coming in when its homecoming time. We need to start taking advantage of this. Instead of walking around aimlessly, we as Spelman College Students could rent out a booth just to raise donations for scholarships and funds for the school.

Although these are only ideas, ideas are the first step to taking initiative. We cannot just expect donations; we must earn the donations. Working hard always profits!

Give ME a Break Response by Ashley R. Jones

In the past, I feel that celebrities were given a slap on the wrist for their wrongdoings, and many times they still are. However, more recently celebrities have been used to set an example of what will and will not be tolerated. For example, Michael Vick, Plaxico Burress, and T.I. are all celebrities who have done wrong and have to face the consequences.

On the other hand, celebrities that act out like Chris Brown are given what many feel like is a slap on the wrist. I am not condoning Chris Brown’s actions, but this wrongdoing was his first offense, and first time offenders are not punished as harshly as second and third time offenders. However, Chris Brown is being made an example for his wrongdoings because currently his career is to say the least idle.

As far as Kanye West, not only were his actions uncalled for, they were highly disrespectful. Kanye West is a revered artist who could have asked to be on any talk show or radio show anywhere in the world to speak out against the results of the ‘Best Female Video’ award, and people would have listened and probably respected and agreed with his opinion. But for him to interrupt a precious moment for a seventeen year old rising star, was inappropriate. His apology is futile and in my opinion should not be accepted. I understand that he may not have been able to mourn his mother’s death properly due to his celebrity status, but that should not be used as an excuse for what he did. The reasoning behind what he did may have something to do with the bottle of Hennessey that he was drinking and photographed with on the red carpet. Nevertheless, this is not Kanye’s first time openly expressing his opinion and like before he goes on without being penalized. However, if he were penalized for expressing his opinions, the debate about freedom of speech would arise, but freedom of speech is not Kanye’s problem. In my opinion, his problem is being tactful. In order to continue to be a highly respected artist, Kanye needs to learn to be more respectful, tactful, and disciplined. Our youth look up to him, and he needs to realize that and set an example for them.

In order for celebrities such as Kanye West to begin to realize the adverse affects their comments and actions have on people, we the consumers of their music, movies, etc. need to hold them accountable. Just like we write and e-mail politicians about their actions we need to do the same for celebrities so that they can get their act together not only for us but for the youth that admire them.

Give ME a break

At the Video Music Awards, Kanye West grabbed the microphone from country singer Taylor Swift as she was giving her acceptance speech for winning 'Best Female Video'. He proceeded to tell the audience that Beyonce deserved to be recognized for having the "best music video of all time." His words caused a stir in the audience while the camera zoomed in on a very embarrassed Beyonce Knowles. Swift was not able to finish her speech at that time due to West's interruption. Kanye West's presentation at the Video Music Awards on Sunday represents a problem much larger than him disrespecting Taylor Swift.

Kanye West, as well as other black figures in the world of popular culture and music, is extremely influential in mainstream America. As black people, we tend to take it personally when somebody who looks like us makes a very public mistake. Look at Chris Brown, Michael Vick, T.I. and the DC snipers—we all thought dang, they just set us back. But it’s not so much Kanye’s behavior that troubles me, but the reasoning behind it.

According to CNN correspondent Alan Duke, Kanye West “blame[d] the pain of his mother’s death two years ago for his ‘rude’ behavior.” West also stated that his celebrity status has hindered him from taking time to cope with the death of his mother.


Celebrities make mistakes all of the time and if they offer apologies we should accept them. However, what kind of message is this sending to our youth? In our society, the reality is celebrities do whatever, say whatever, offend whoever, and after they offer an apology we turn the other cheek and buy their next CD. Why is it important to have morals, values, and a strong character if glory and riches will be there regardless? It’s time to make our celebrities more accountable for their public offenses for the sake of our children.

By: Isis Rose

September 16, 2009

Could You Walk a Mile in My Shoes?: Heels Vs.Flats

Commentary: Marishonta Wilkerson

In many College and University environments, politics and fashion are top priorities.  At Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU's) these two components of a "rememberable" college career seem to take precedence over others.  Not saying that fashion and politics are areas in which students should not focus their attention, but when the fashion becomes political then there may be a mix up in priorities.  Let's be honest after we have long graduated from Spelman College, we may forget about who was crowned "Miss Sophomore" or "Miss Pre-Alumni Council", but we may be less likely to forget about the girl from the "Bay Area" who refused to wear anything other than Vans and tank tops, or the girl who always walked into class late making extra noise with her heels.

Because most of the things at our school are political is it safe to say that fashion predetermines some of our most sought out chairs in office, or those across the street at Morehouse College?  Since when did the height of our shoes become the level of hierarchy?   I do not know when this began but I feel it is safe to say that it will not end soon.  Do "Spelmanites" have to wear heels to campus everyday? Absolutely not.  There is no model of the All American Spelmanite and even if there was one she may be pictured in some nice flats because she is bustling on her way to change yet, another part of the world. This goes for all Spelman students, including those on courts and not.

At the end of the first day of classes this August there was quite a discrepancy about a certain women who held a prestigious college position (in the AUC)  who wore flats.  She did not think it was a big deal and neither did I.  She went to her classes that first day and immediately began to implement the platform with which she had been voted into her new position.  At the end of the day she made progress and represented the college well,  guess some would prefer the physical representation more than anything else.  This is ridiculous to me that the work one of our Spelman Sisters does is measured by what she is wearing when she does it, instead of the actual work itself.  No Spelmanite, no woman should be required or pressured to wear high heeled shoes, if she chooses not to.  Give that most women who wear heels do it as confidence boosters or to get attention, we shouldn't try to force that upon each other, or allow men to do it either.  In the "American Demographics" by Diane Crispell 72 % of the women that wear heels today say that they are very uncomfortable when compared to other shoes.  43 % of women agree that they wear they to look slimmer and 40% say the wear them to get mens attention.  These two reasons may be good for some but not for all, so I say wear your heels if you want but do not be afraid to change into your flats.  If flats will help you make it to that 11:00 am class when you just arrived on campus at 10:55 then by all means wear them!  Women are not required to conform to the models and examples even we have set for each other, which means we are not required to wear shoes that make us look slimmer but feel pain.  The next time your Morehouse Brother or Spelman Sister ask you why you are wearing flats, you turn and ask them: Could you walk a mile in my shoes, literally and mentally?  Spelman Women are interested in changing the world, not the world of fashion.


Crispell, Diane. "Having High Heels -Will Limp." May 1997. Web. 8 Sept. 2009. .

Leave at 11:30? Really?:By Nia Newton

           My friends always seem bewildered when I tell them that I cannot have guys in my room before six and after eleven thirty. Most of my friends go to predominantly white schools, where the rules about visitation are limited and scarce. So why does Spelman have this rule? It beats me. Spelman College should have less restrictive visitation rules in order to teach students responsibility, give the students what they pay for, and to treat each student as an adult.
          Every male visitor must be out in the dorm lobbies by 11:25 to check out. There are no exceptions. Many who support these regulations would say that it is better for the students because it gives the women a limit on the time they have to fool around instead of study. I believe this regulation babies the students who attend Spelman College. As young adults, we have to be responsible. We should be able to have guests until a much later time as long as we are respectful of our roommates and our neighbors. We must use time management wisely.
         10,000 dollars is a lot of money to pay for living expenses, even more than it would cost to live off campus. As first and second year students, we are forced to live on campus, and forced to pay the housing fees. If a student is paying 10,000 dollars for a room, then that student should have the option to have guest in that room whenever she feels. I feel that 10,000 dollars is an efficient amount of money to pay for the freedom to do what you want with your space.
         As I have stated a large amount of times in this commentary, we are all adults. Almost all of us are 18 and older. We are away from home and should not be treated like little children who need curfews and limitations, we should be able to act freely and know what the consequences are going to be. Telling a student that they have to be on campus by 11, must have all visitors out by 11:25, or must be asleep at 12 is being a second parent. Yes, as a college community, we want the best for our students, but we cannot force grown adults to do what they do not want to do. As adults we should have the right to do as we please.
        I do not see anything wrong with striking the visitation rules. Other schools have free visitation and all of them run perfectly fine. Harvard, NYU, and Columbia are all elite schools with no restrictions on visitation. There is no reason why Spelman women cannot handle the freedom or obtain the freedom of timeless visitation. Spelman can keep a hold on things without suffocating its students.

Commentary..

What you have to understand Nia is that the majority of your friends who attend White schools are living in an environment suited and understood for White people. Instead of condemning Spelman for the visitation rule, thank them for looking out for you as an African American woman. The statistics of pregnancies before marriage is far greater in the African American community than it is the White community, partially because of the lack of sex education from parents and schools. If you are attending a White school, obviously you are going to have less restrictions on male visitation because young adult pregnancies are topics less discussed, less prevalent, and of less concern in the White community. However, you would probaly not have as many males you would want to visit you if you were at a White school anyway! : ) Im not attacking you, but rather making, in my opinion, the valid point that there are so many other positives to look and observe at that qualify Spelman as one of the best schools in the Nation. First off, your attending the top HBCU in the country, Spelman is a school all about sisterhood so you have at least 2000 girls that will always have your back, and being at a HBCU gives you the privelege of being embraced, not just tolerated as a statistic. So, yes, you could go to a White school and have male visitors till six am in the morning, but being honest with yourself is it really worth it to sacrifice all the other positives of Spelman College and the HBCU life? In my opinion, no. There is PLENTY of time for male visitation and all that may come with it. But for now, enjoy the time with your friends, your 36 thousand dollar education, and your overpriced books. At the end of the day, your future job interviwer will not ask you how long males visited your room but rather what organizations you were active in, what networking you did, how high your grades were, etc. The answers to all these questions will be better because you took a few more hours to be productive than spending it with a boy. As Black women, we will NOT be looked at the same in ANY interview as the WHITE girl sitting next to us. So, although she may have gotten unlimited visitation and have a lower GPA than you, there is the chance that shell STILL get picked over you. As a Black woman, there is just no time to play around, especially not in College. Do all you can do to make it as far as you can because the White girl who got her visitation does not have to worry about the job interviewer turning up his nose at her. In the world, we will be treated harder, thus, Spelman must be harder on us to ensure we are prepared to the best of our ability. I love you my Spelman sister!

Is it really the "White man's" fault?

Having attended a predominantly White school in the South for most of my middle and high school years, the idea of attending a HBCU excited every bone in my body. My school was also very Republican and very racist. Throughout high school and middle school, I had the conclusion decided in my mind that the oppression of the Black race was the "White man's fault"; I had come to the conclusion in my mind that we were oppressed because the White race had little respect and expectations of us outside the fields of sports and music. However, now in my second year of attending a predominantly Black school, I must admit that it is just as much "there" fault as it is "ours" . Why do we as a race entertain and make comedy out of things that we truly should not find funny? Wouldn't Kat Williams be just as hilarious if he did not use the "n" word in his comedy skits? Why do we put down our fellow sisters when they dare to wear their beautiful kinks or gorgeous afros rather than the mainstream relaxed look? Why do my Black friends from White schools condemn me for going to an HBCU? I just want to yell at them "HELLO..You are BLACK too..why are you putting down your own race like that?" Who cares who is lighter than who? In reality, does skin color make someone any more beautiful or smarter than another? No, it does not. Have we brought ourselves down because of failure to embrace our true selves and the tendency to entertain what we shoud not? Is it really the "White man's" fault?





Commentary by: Sascha Betts

While reading your post and understanding your viewpoint, it is evident that you believe everyone should hold accountability for their own actions, as do I, and as you’ve stated, there comes a time when the fault is strictly one sided, and it shouldn't be. In the case of “the white man” being to blame for all African American setbacks, I too believe that some African Americans tend to overlook the way that they behave in order to put the blame on someone else. I do not give credit to White Americans for enslaving Blacks, but due to the time progression, many of the problems that persist within the black community did not start and finish with whites. There have been times when I’ve heard whites use the term Nigga during conversation with blacks as if it were a proper noun. Do we accept this? Some do, so to cut the word out of an act, or to discontinue using the term altogether for that matter is almost too much to ask for, especially when it is being used by people whose ancestors once used the word in a derogatory manner. I understood the points you made and can honestly agree with you on many of them. I enjoyed your take on the issue, but some evidence/studies/statistics could have been incorporated to create a more fact based argument rather than opinion based. Are you appealing to logic (logos) here? I like the fact that you posed questions, most rhetorical, but for some the answer to them would have made your argument more sound.