Should Minors Ever Be Tried As Adults? | It’s A Question Of Balance 15 August 2015

Broadcast on 15 August 2015 on KSCO AM 1080, KSCO 104.1 FM, KOMY AM 1340, and KSCO.com Live Stream.

'It's A Question Of Balance' is a two hour show which balances the intellectual with the creative. The show combines a debate topic with an arts interview because discussion and creativity are two of the most vital ways we engage in the world. 

Check out podcasts of the different topics and arts guests at www.itsaquestionofbalance.com

Hour 1: Out And About – Conversations with People on the Street about Questions That Matter: Should Minors Ever Be Tried As Adults?

This week we consider ‘Should Minors Ever Be Tried As Adults?’ Critics of juvenile court argue that the line between juvenile and adult is no longer as clear, that children grow up much quicker these days, and they are more exposed to adult ideas and so they can be responsible for their actions. Barry Krisberg, a University of California, Berkeley criminologist states that there is no way a minor can fully understand what they are doing saying “he might be able to recount the events that resulted, but the notion that he comprehended the consequences of his actions flies in the face of all the science we know.” Scientific research has shown the pre-frontal lobe development is not complete until the early 20s. Teens may have difficulty inhibiting inappropriate behaviors because the circuitry needed for such control is not fully mature. This is something that is frequently put forward as an argument as to why the legal age to consume alcohol should not be lowered. Critics of the juvenile court system state that it is not being successful enough at deterring juvenile crime and this is an argument for a more punitive approach in the criminal courts. Concerns about justice being done for juveniles being tried as adults revolves around whether they can adequately comprehend their Miranda Rights, and the complexities of the legal process, research showing that when tried as an adult juveniles are more likely to waive the right to an attorney and to confess during police interrogations; misunderstand that they have the right to an attorney before and during a police interrogation; and erroneously believe that attorneys only serve innocent defendants. So should minors ever be tried as adults?

What do you think? For more info on the show and to hear past shows visit www.itsaquestionofbalance.com