Dr.

Attis
9th Literature/1A
December 9, 2015
Synthesis Essay
Ahem. The Bailiff cleared his throat, breaking the silence in the extremely quiet
courtroom. After that, the only thing heard was shuffling of papers and the drop of sweat falling
on the table off of Kimberly Browns face. If you the reader looked at Brown, while sitting in the
front row of the jury, the reader you would see her eyes water as the judged cleared his throat. If
the reader you were behind her, the reader you would see her shift uncomfortably in her seat,
assuming it was her pants chaffing against her leg. The judge exhaled with a smug grin appearing
on his face, it was clear he decided. 15-year old Kimberly Brown, on trial for plotting and
executing the murder of her 6 year old sister Madison Brown, would be tried as an adult. After
she turned 18, she would be incarcerated in an adult prison with charges as lengthy asserving life
without parole. Though this is nothing new, in todays society, we hear more and more of about
young murder suspects being tried as adults. From ages 8 to 16, these children are being
convicted of murder whether felony or 1st degree. In the writers view, young murder suspects
should not be tried as adults. The authors belief in this is based off of reasoning that young
murder suspects have a background that contributes to them committing these crimes. Also, that
young murder suspects are less mature than adults in prisons.
To begin, young murder suspects have backgrounds or extenuating circumstances that could
lead them to crimescommit crimes. Information provided by the documentary of Cyntoia Brown
asserts that Cyntoia Brown had horrible life experiences. She was a 16-year old found guilty
for 1st degree and felony murder. Cyntoia Brown murdered Johnny Allen and was tried as an

adult for her actions. However, Browns genetic background can vouch for her crime. She comes
from a mother who battled bipolar and personality disorders, which she inherited. Also, she
comes from a 3-generation home of abuse. She experienced physical abuse from her father who
reportedly slapped her around because he felt like it and sSexual abuse from her friend, drug
dealer, and Pimp KutThroat, whos sexual abuse went on for long period of times. Not only
was she forced to have relations for KutThroats monetary benefit but she was also used for his
own sexual desires. On top of the abuse, she battled internal conflicts such as self-pity,
unwantedness, and loneliness. Should someone with such a history be charged as an adult at a
young age with no chance of recovery? At what point does an abused and vulnerable teenage girl
with such unfair horrific life experiences become such a threat to society that she deserves to be
locked away for the rest of her life? Here is a teenage girl coming from a troubled life, seeking
love, and the need to be wanted; transformed into a ruthless adult in front of the court. How can
that ever be considered right?
Likewise, according to Catherine Jones, she and her brother were sexually abused by a
relative (Interview). Catherine Jones, who was, age 13, and her brother Curtis Jones, who was
age 12, at the time were tried as adults for plotting to kill 2 family members and the for
murdering of their fathers girlfriend. As stated, they were victims of sexual abuse and this
specific occasion wasthe abuse was well documented by cChild wWelfare sServices over for 5
years with no action taking place. Nothing was done. How long can you keep water boiling
before it boils out of the pot completely? This is what happened to Catherine and Curtis.
Eventually, after keeping them in this household aware of this problem and not taking action,
they eventually reached a boiling point; no more can be taken. A 12 year old and a 13 year old
seen as an adult due to seeking relief from the terror, the abuse they received? Who knows what

horrors these babies young offenders experienced with no one to go turn to for help about these
issues due to it being a family matter? They should not have been tried as adults if they knew
what they were going through and no one retaliated! No one helped these kids get out of this
dilemma so their last resort was to save themselves. Does an Adult have to be the only label that
protects themselves for their own good?
Life without Hope an article by Ed Pilkington found that Dupures encounter when she
was 17 changed everything (4). Nicole Dupure met Belvins and they started dating. Dupure
ignored the warning signs of her mother; that this boy was bad news. She continued with him
and later on they were convicted to actively participating in a murder. Dupures incarceration
was completely based off of Belvins testimony stating her whereabouts and participation in the
crime. This 17 year old girl had an academic background of all B's and she was on her way to
college. If she had not indeed met boy Belvin or had not gotten pregnant by him, even had a
relationship she would have not been involved in the case at all. Should a teen of her age be
labeled as such a horrible monster due to beliefs in love and the complete word testimony of
another young murder suspect? At what point will the line be drawn? Even in Michigan, Dupure
would have not been tried as an adult if she was 18 and wouldve received less heavy charges
due to a child's sentence being harsher in Michigan.
There are those who believe that backgrounds should not be considered in trying young
murder suspects due to ideals that there should be no extent in which the results should be
murder. However, they fail to see that as a human being people do get tired and fed up.
Circumstances like sexual abuse or physical abuse do contribute to negative perspectives and
negative mindsets. Would you Is it reasonable to expect every rape victim to see the brighter side
of life? Would you expect an abuse victim easily reacting to touch? Is it reasonable to expect

Why would you a person ever consider someone of such Pastwith horrific pasts to be remain
stable in the future? Any factor that is heavy on the mind creates such pressures on people
leaving them to transforming into suspects.
The author writer also believes that youth young offenders should not be tried as adults due to
the fact that teens are not as mature as adults. According to the article, Should Young Murder
Suspects be tried as Adults, brain development affects crime rates of teens" (Khalid, 4). Teens
are more impulsive and they don't delay and have much of a second mind as adults. For example
if you oppose propose the idea of skipping class to teens, he or shesome would respond quickly
favorably, not giving a second thought into to the consequences that could easily follow the
action. However, an adult, with mental capacity a fully developed brain, would think about the
absence on their transcript for and the methods ofconsequences and punishments and would
likely make a more sound decision. following going through with this action. Furthermore, teens
have a surge of emotional activity and restraint from the brains frontal lobe that creates a danger
zone. The frontal lobe for example in adolescents is not as in control over impulses or instincts in
comparison to adult brains. With that being said, if it is a known fact that teens brains have not
reached the capacity of an adult, how could you look upon them as such?
Additionally, evidence from the article Prison is Too Violent for Young Offenders
declares that, some young prisoners are incarcerated in adult prisons (Scott, 1). These Tteens,
who are from incarceratedion in adult prisons, become open to the negative influences of prison.
They are exposed to fighting to broadcast their belonging in prison and being personally targeted
for their size and unawareness of activities in prison. Due to developing identities and searching
for themselves, they adapt to the 'hostile environment of prison, it becoming normal to
themwhich then become a new normal for the young offenders. Quite often, teens find

themselves driven by fear of survival in prison. They find themselves inducted into gangs,
creating and turning to weapons just to get by day to day. As stated, teens are personally targeted
due to their immaturity in size and mentality. Suicide rates of teens and sexual abuse rates of
teens are at an all-time high. Should a teen be placed in a predicament in which they turn to
killing themselves to get away from such punishment? Is it okay to see a child being tormented
until they feel the only way to get away is to rid themselves of such lifesuicide? Are these teens
such monsters that this is what they deserve? Its becoming to where a young murder suspect
experiences a charge much heavier than an adult can ever bear.
Equally, Monster Meyers articulates teens are less mature emotionally (Myers, 96). In
the story, Steve Harmon, age 15, is on trial at 15 for felony murder. On top of mental and
physical immaturity frailty, he is a prime example of the exhibits emotional fragility as well. He
would go to bed every night terrified out of his mind of what can could happen, what someone
might say, what is capable of being done that day. To wake up in the morning and go to sleep
afraid, to have to carry the burden on your back of obliviousness to what your fate may be the
next day in prison is ridiculous. Teens are placed in prison and expected to be okay. They were
are labeled as an adult so they are seen as an adult. The old saying you dont judge a book by a
cover is accurate in this situation. You can call and label that teen an adult all-day yet on the
inside you see the capacities of a child.
On the other hand, there are many that believe teens or young murder suspects should be
tried as adults due to their capabilities of plotting and executing murders. These people also
believe that adults are only capable of such. They believe that since teens are capable of
murder, they are capable of the consequences that come after whether it be life without parole or
any of sort. It is also vital to consider the simplicity it is for a developing mind to process both

positive and negative thoughts. Death is something familiar among the minds of teens.
Adolescent minds think more impetuous abstract than literalconcrete. Teens may joke around
with their friends and simply say I will kill you! Does that mean theyre they are plotting
murder? The Adult Time for an Adult Crime is a motto involving young murder suspects being
tried as adults and their execution of crimes as murder make them adults. What is the difference
between a young murder suspect and an adult murder suspect that teens receive harder harsher
sentences when an adult completes the same exact crime? Is a young murder more important
than an adult murder? These are children being treated not as adults, but monsters to societies
that they deserve to be locked up longer, no chance of recovery, and should end up traumatized
by this experience because they are bigger threats to humanity than adults.
To sum it up, young murder suspects should not be tried as adults. This claim is based off of
assertions that young murder suspects have a background that leads them to such crime and that
they are less mature than adults. In closing the purpose of this is to convince the reader teens
should not be tried as adults so that they the reader could share this information and one change
one ed perspective at a time can end young murder suspects being tried as adults. So, do you
think young murder suspects should be tried as adults?