Brainstorming: Reforming the Juvenile Justice System ; Jose

1.  Answer based on your article:

• Who is the accused? The victim(s)?  Where did it take place? How long ago?

The one accused was Jose at the age of 14 in 1998 for an incident that happened in an alley where a friend was killed, his name was not stated.

• What was the crime?

The crime that he was charged with was a murder of a friend that was brutally beaten to death by another friend while they were both drunk.

• How old was the defendant at the time? At the time of the trial?

The defendant at the time was fourteen years of age at the time of the trial he was fifteen.

• What were the charges?

The charge that he was faced with was murder.

• Was there any discussion in your articles about the background/history of the defendants? That is, were there extenuating circumstances (poverty, abuse, health, etc.) that may have influenced their criminal decisions?

Yes both his parents has problems especially his father which was a heroin addict and both his parents abandoned him. Then soon after he became involved in gangs and also became an addict of drugs and alcohol. 

• What did the parents of the accused have to say, if anything?  The families of the victims?

It does not mention anything about the victim or his family but his parents didn't have anything to say because they weren't and still aren't in his life.

• What was the outcome of the trial? The sentencing?

The outcome of the trial was that he was sent to juvenile hall until the age of 17 for pleading guilty in the crime also right after he had a psychological evaluation to determine how dangerous he was. Evidence was collected afterwards saying that he had little involvement in the crime but still was guilty for the crime. After he was out of juvenile hall he was released with probation to find a job or be a full time student along with leaving his whole gang life. 

• Was there some sort of public comment, outcry, or protest associated with this case?  

There was no sort of public comment, outcry, or protest with this crime.

• Since the sentencing, have either the victims or the perpetrators been heard from, and if so, how?

Yes after he got out after five months he obtained a job with local parks department and enrolled in community college but in January 2001 he was arrested for probation violation .

2.  Using the arguments presented in the articles in your reader, plus the ones I gave you (including the one from the Atlantic), examine the case that you chose...

• How might we take brain research into account in this case?

Brain research can be taken into account on this crime because we would research why he did such an act and if he is a danger to the community. Also, we can foreshadow some of the actions that can be committed in the future.

• Assume that at some point we outlaw trying juveniles as adults.  How, then, would this case change?

I think that this case would have changed by him not having an adult record at the age of seventeen but other then that his punishment would have been the same because the judge gave him a big break.

• Assume that at the time of the crime, the accused juveniles were adults.  How, then, would this case change?

If at the time the juveniles where adults they would have had probably a long time in prison and not they research put into him as they did after the crime. Also, the judges would have been more stricter and tougher on the defendant.

• Do you believe, based on what you've read about this case, that the sentencing was fair?  Why or why not?  If you were judge (or emperor), how would you have dealt with this case?

I think that the sentencing was fair especially because he was not the main person that committed the crime he was just a bit involved with it and it was the alcohol that made him not realize what he was doing until it got really violent is when they realized the victim was dead. If I was the judge I would have not given him an adult record but time in juvenile hall and probation yes.

3.  My last big question: What does your case have to say about the juvenile justice system?  What can, or should, we change? 

My case says about the juvenile court system is that even if the defendant did not commit the crime he gets that set on his record for life. That is not fair because yes he was part of it but he was not the one who actually killed the victim. This system can also be fair enough though with the sentencing depending on the judge and his or her opinion. I think that we should change that the charges that he was faced with don't move to his adult record especially if they weren't the main person. I can understand if it was the one guilty and really did want to kill the victim but in this case it was an accident that he did not fully commit.

Tried Juveniles

Q: What are the most important factors to consider when deciding whether to charge a juvenile as an adult? Explain your choice.

I think the most important factors that decide whether or not to charge a juvenile as an adult is brain development. They either aren't mature enough, immature, too young, or they do not understand what they are being told in adult court. In the cases that we have read about in our reader and in the Atlantic Monthly they all state a fact due to our brains. At the age of twelve Lionel Tate had been tried as an adult for imitating the moves of a video game onto a young girl that he was roughly playing with. He did not know the danger in these moves as well as what was going to happen in real life. He might have thought it was like the video game where nothing really happens because you get another life to try again. In the studies of the Atlantic Monthly studies show that a brain tumor can change a person in many ways. Even as an adult it can change your needs, actions and also your personality. For example they said a forty year old man named Alex changes his sexual preferences from a normal man to wanting to excessively watch children porn. These changes caused an average person to become a criminal and a danger to society without them wanting to do any harm naturally. This is why I believe its the brain development that matters the most.

Student Hw

If you were struggling would you go dumpster diving and how would you feel?

If I was struggling and absolutely didn't have another choice yes I would have to go dumpster diving. I'm sure I would feel embarrassed and grossed out when I actually did this because its something I would ever do. On the other hand, if it got me food and some useful things I'm sure that eventually I would get used to it.

Teach Questions

Magic Madness:

1) The best magic trick I have seen has been Chris Angel walking through a metal door. I saw the video on youtube when I was on skype with a friend. I thought it was so weird and incredible because at first they made them touch the door to see he really did go through it. The trick to this was that they had to cover him to go through the door and at the end he got a big cover and came all out. This video was just amazing because what human being would be able to do this? Apparently Chris Angel can.


Drug Abuse

Q: Do you agree with the statistics? Why or why not?

I kind of do agree with the statistics but at the same time I do not agree. First, we don't know what kind of drugs they speak of and if it was in certain circumstances like if they went to rehab. At the same time it can be true but I think these days it might be a little higher especially with the influences of our culture these days and high school influences. I agree because yes with their mom they are more likely to be stricter then their dad thats why its a higher percentage with their fathers. They don't tend to care as much as moms but I can't say all because there are fathers who care more about their children then their own mother. That is why I agree but disagree.

Translation:Music

CH.16 ) Songs and music of the Ynga and the rest of the men of this kingdom and the yndios named haravi(song of love) and uanca(song), pingollo(flute), quena quena(Indian dance) in the general language of quichiua, aymara. Says this:

"Song of love, is it unfortunate,queen, that separates us? Is it because you my little blue flower, my sour flower? In my head, in the center of my heart I will take you everywhere. Like a water mirror you are an illusion. Like water mirror you are a lie. Who are you? Will I rest with my love? It is your untruthful mother that separates us from death and it is your father that is the enemy that causes us poorness. Maybe, Queen, thats how God made it, Oh mighty man. We will both meet and that God will unite us! When I remember your happy eyes, I loose all senses. When I remember those flirting eyes, I get sick. It's the truth, Inka, It's the truth, sir! Of that committee who induces crying, do you come with your flower heart? Crying for rivers and towns Encima de Kantur, in the pass of Saphi I wait for you. My love Siqulla."

I choose this specific song because it sounds like a tragic love story and i always enjoy a love story. I understood it like a low class man and a high class person trying to be together but it is bad in society and their parents separating them .

The Things They Carried

In The Things They Carried by Tim O’Brien the chapter of “Sweetheartof the Song Tra Bong, “it tells about a young woman named Mary Anne. She goesinto the battlegrounds with Mark Fossie as a type of nurse to heal the injuredsoldiers. Maybe too young just coming out of high school but they accepted herto see those awful things with no experience. In the beginning of this chapterit describes Mary Anne as the perfect “woman” to the soldier’s eyes. She hasthe nice body, perky attitude and curiosity of a five year old. That to themwas the perfect girl that anyone could have. What they didn’t realize was thatshe wasn’t a fully grown woman she was just a young girl exploring not knowingeverything that surrounds her.

The servicemen at this point do not know what they really want. They are out in nowhere with all men and as soon as they see a woman that is quite interesting they think that she is perfect. In reality, she is bearly learning just like them. She is a little cub trying to be a big bear. Since they are stuck in a place where they don't even know they don't see the outside world and what the world can offer them beyond of high school and what they were doing before. After all, they came in after high school just like Mary Anne. Mary Anne is seen as a woman in this chapter but she only conveys one type of person that is barely finding herself.

What describes a real woman is someone who has faced many obstacles in life and has obtained life lessons from those exact things. They come up from the bad things being stronger then ever. Obstacles like schooling and hard decisions. Mary Anne in a way is a controversy of that ideal. She just gives a pretty face and says please a few times and she gets what she wants from anyone in the group. The satisfaction of working for what you want and the idea that you know that you worked hard has never gone through her because she is spoiled there. This just makes people think that they are people who just don't work hard.

Another ideal that Mary Anne portrays is that woman are always perky and social. A woman has her own personality and some might be different then each other. Some woman might be quiet and a thinker instead of those who speak their minds and explore everything they see. Like any other person they differ from other in a group. They might find someone similar but never someone who is exactly the same as the other person.

Vietnam Experience

Name of the photo: 1067

Describe what this photograph depicts.

    This photo shows a soldier named Frank Eates holding James A. Doughty’s hand in his last moments alive. Frank unfortunately died moments after but fought one of the hardest and aggressive battles between the Americans and North Vietnamese.

What does this photograph demonstrates about what life was like during the Vietnam War?

    This photo demonstrates that during the Vietnam War people who they have know to be family and learned to protect are dying all around them and some even disappearing. They remain hopeful and are with them until their last breath. I see in this picture that no one dies alone someone is always there. I also see a lot of brotherly love between the two soldiers by them having each other’s hand and feeling each other’s suffering and pain.

If your photo has people in it, give one of them a name and make up background information about them. If it’s just a landscape, make up a history about the place.
    James A. Doughty, 20, a striving, brave and risk taking young boy died in the battle against the Vietnamese. With his life ahead of him after just finishing high school two years ago and a student to become a police man, all crashed down. He fought for his dear country every single second that he was on that battleground. Doughty left with the courageous memory of fighting one of the most violent and powerful battle fought during this war. Leaving behind his whole entire life and family to grieve for his death they lost all their hopes lost that one day they would ever see his face light up from joy again. On the other hand, they are happy at knowing that to them he is a hero to the beloved nation of The United States of America.

What will “stick with you” about this photo?
    The main things that will stick with me about this photograph is the sense of pain that it gave me to this but also the joy. To see that no men are left alone in the moment that they most need their fellow battle partners with them is something that in those moments nothing that can be compared to. There, the person has all the love, companionship and loyalty in front of their eyes and they will leave with the loving memory of their troops.

Racial Profiling

Racial profiling has become a very big issue especially after the case on 9/11. It is not only an issue for african americans and hispanics but also muslims, arabs and any other race that is concidered dangerous. For examplem in the article "Police-Stop Data Shows Pockets Where Force Is Used More Often" by Ray Rivera featred in the New York Times talks about how in Bronx, New York police enforcement have unreasonably tackled and used force against their citizens when they weren't even in any harm. Some people think its becasue they are fresh out of the police academy and are scared of getting hurt on the job. A simple task as of asking for their identification can go out of hand. The police enforcement is not supposed to lead more racial profiling but try to stop it by keeping their residents safe and this, is not a way to do it.
Also in the article "Racial Profiling of Muslims Is Justified to Prevent Terrorism" by Michelle Malkin featrured in the magizine of USA Today talks about how Muslims are suffering by racial profiling in this country. It states that if they were alowed to racially profile Muslims and Arabs in the time of September 11, 2001 then the twin towers could have still been standing and innocent people would still been alive. They know that feelings would be hurt and there would be dilemas over this choice but certain people think its the best choice for national security. Yet, many people would be charged or seen as dangeroyus without even doing anything wrong and that live peacefully on Americal soil. Also in the articvle of "Ethnic and Religious Profiling Is Necessary" by Carl F. Horowitz it also supprts the action of racial profiling. He thinks that this can stop terrorism from happeneing withing our country but in reality it is hurting our country more by giving a reason more for hatred.