Reply to this discussion post and make it two paragraph long:

Roper v Simmons

Case Facts : Christopher Simmons was sentenced the death penalty for the murder of Shirley Cook at the age of 17 in 1989. Simmons had previously talked about wanting to commit a murder. He then broke into Cooks house with two other perpetrators and duct taped her eyes and mouth and bound her hand behind her back. They then covered her head with towel and lead her to the rail road tracks over the Meramec River. They then tied her hands and feet together with electrical wire and duct taped her face and threw her in the river causing her to down. Missouri state court charged Simmons with burglary, kidnapping, stealing, and murder in the first degree.

Supreme court ruling : On March 1st, 2005 The U.S. Supreme court overruled the Missouri's supreme court ruling of the death penalty. The vote was 5-4 and the U.S. Supreme Court determined juvenile executions violated the 8th and 14th Amendment of cruel and unusual punishment. This then forbid the execution of offenders who committed their crimes under the age of 18. Simmons was then sentenced to life in prison without parole.

Impact on the Juvenile Court System: This decision then saved several offenders who committed their crimes under the age of 18 from the death penalty. This then pushed more rehabilitation for those minors opposed to the death penalty.

Was this a good ruling? Some could say yes and some could say no. I think there was very much intent in this case that cost somebody's life. In my opinion, yes this was the correct call especially with his final sentencing being life in prison. I think that is the proper sentence for an offender that only commits one murder.

U.S. and England Reform Schools

U.S. - The first reform school in the U.S. was in New York City were there had previously been a house of refuge but the intentions were not working so it then turned into a reform school.

England - England started there reform school in the 17th century and they kind of died of but then restarted them in the 19th century along with the united states.

In the 19th century originally children who committed crimes would be tried as adults in court. People then began to believe in the 1830's and 1840's that these children who were in prisons with adult would then just become better criminals because they would learn from adults. Then in 1857 the Industrial School act was passed. This meant these convicted children would be sent to a reformatory school, kids could be sent here if their parents had went to prison or they were being neglected also.Children were committed to these schools for up to five years and some of these kids were in these schools for petty crimes like stealing bread or other things small.

These schools were very strict and tough on the kids and some were even beaten. These schools did try to teach the children a trade so that they could when they were released from the schools. These kids were given a form structure and security due to the staff members having a family like setting which some of these kids never had and a strict schedule.

It was found that the longer these schools were open the less affective they came to be. There would only be improvements in some children. It was clear the states were not a benevolent parent. The schools were not providing the discipling and rehabilitation they were supposed to. The schools were not able to provide the right rehabilitation for the kids and then they would get out and just repeat their crimes. They were not able to provide proper discipline for the children or control them well enough to help them reintegrate into society properly.