When to Punish a Young Offender, and When to Rehabilitate - Room for Debate - NYTimes.com

When to Punish a Young Offender, and When to Rehabilitate - Room for Debate - NYTimes.com

Introduction

Chip Litherland for The New York Times The crime author Dennis Lehane addressed teenage inmates in 2006 as part of a reading program at the Orange County Jail in Orlando, Fla.

The Supreme Court is expected to rule this month on when, if ever, it is appropriate to sentence juvenile offenders to life without parole. The arguments this spring showed the complexity of drawing the lines between child and adult, and between justice and cruelty.
When minors commit violent crimes, should they be treated differently from adults? Is prison effective as a punishment and deterrent for juveniles, or does it harden a young person who might otherwise recover?
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