Newspaper Article

READER RESPONSES

J. TOM MORGAN, BILL EIDSON, BILL PLESS, CHARLES SMITH, WALTER H. INGE, CARL PYRDUM, EVELYN VILA

2001

Overview

Whether to try a juvenile as an adult is the most difficult decision a prosecutor faces. Many factors influence the decision --- justice for the victim, potential rehabilitation of the juvenile and protection of the community. Under Georgia law, the maximum amount of supervision that can be imposed on a juvenile is five years. In most cases, this is not nearly enough time to monitor someone who has committed a violent crime. If lengthy incarceration is necessary, the defendant must be tried as an adult. A preferable sentencing structure is the one used in Michigan where the defendant is tried as an adult, but the determination of whether a juvenile will be treated as an adult or a juvenile is made when the defendant reaches 21. The decision at that time is made based on the juvenile's rehabilitative history while incarcerated as well as the facts of the juvenile's crime and criminal history. Without such a sentencing mechanism in Georgia, in most cases the protection of society requires we prosecute juveniles who are charged with violent crimes as adults. For the media to continue to analyze [Timothy McVeigh]'s actions, his words and his execution serves only to achieve the goals of Timothy McVeigh. Shame on you. Stop!

• Publisher: Atlanta Journal Constitution, LLC