The Unjust Justice System for Children

Alyssa Juge

Berman

Writing 101 Section 74

14 September 2017

The Unjust Justice System for Children

        When you see a little boy alone, hurt, and scared, you instantly feel terrible for him. You do not know what he has done through his life, but you know, in that moment, you want to help him in any way possible. Now imagine that same child, in a small, secluded jail cell. He is getting raped daily and terrified that he will not be breathing the next morning. All because of one mistake he made while still learning and developing, his life is ruined. In the book Just Mercy, it shows many different cases where the jury is trialing children as adults. Children are being sentenced to life in prison as young as six years old, not even old enough to go out in public by themselves or make their own decisions, but are on trial being convicted as an adult. While in trial, race is becoming an issue as well as the jury not taking into consideration the children’s mental health and how an adult prison is not a place children can grow and develop properly.

         Many young teens have developed many different mental disorders, but the jury and judges do not take this into consideration for many cases. Personally, I have had problems with mental disorders such as anxiety and depression. Depression has made me do things that I feel horrible about now. Any mental disorder, no matter how little it may be, can cause a person to do things that you would not normally do and clouds people’s judgement, and this should be brought into consideration when one is on trial. Stevenson uses one case specifically, that of Trina Garnett, to exemplify this point. Throughout her life, Trina has endured abuse from her father. He would regularly beat and rape his wife, causing her to become pregnant with multiple children, whom would eventually be abused physically and mentally after their mothers’ death. Because of all the abuse and death, Trina soon developed mental health problems {Stevenson, 149}. When accused of setting her friend’s house on fire consciously, killing them in the process, she was put on trial, though she had mental disorders and was distressed by their death. Because she had little money, and her father did not care for her, she was appointed a lawyer, who did little for her when it came to her trial. Even though many knew about her issues, her lawyer did not file the proper paperwork, so she was forced to go to trial. {150} Because of this, Trina is sentence to life in prison without parole, charged with second-degree murder.

        Every day, you can hear a racial slur or comment being made whether you are walking down the street or sitting in a restaurant. It is depressing to say that race also plays a part in the justice system. In the following case that Stevenson mentions in Just Mercy, race came into play and caused an innocent African American to go to trial and be sentenced to death, only later a white male admitting to the crime. The only proof that was pointed towards George Stinney was he saw the two girls the night before they disappeared. When brought to trial at just thirteen years old, he was executed for the murders. Race and poverty was a big role in this case. Because he was poor, he had to be appointed a lawyer and most people believe that a black man is more capable of doing horrible things than a white man. Race, religion, or sex should not have a part in any situation. Everyone should be treated equally. The color of your skin or how much money you have does not come into play with a person’s actions.

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