CJA 354 Criminal Law Life Without Parole

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On Monday January 14, 2013 the United States Supreme Court rendered their decision on whether or not juveniles should spend the rest of their lives in prison, without the possibility of parole. The case that was brought before the court involved 14 year old Kuntrell Jackson. "Jackson went with two older boys to rob a video store; on the way he learned that one of the other boys had a gun" (Miller v Alabama, 2010). Jackson stayed outside for a while, then entered the store and said "I thought we was only playin," at that point the older boy with the gun shot and killed the store clerk. Jackson was charged with first degree murder and sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

This case is interesting for several reasons, Jackson is only 14, and according to scientific evidence, his brain is not able to function like adults. Jackson also believed that they were playing a game and he had no intent of harming anyone. Charging a child as an adult is certainly difficult enough to comprehend, but putting a child in prison for the rest of his/her life seems to be a fate worse than death. A child can be rehabilitated, unlike many adults who choose their path in life.

Six jurisdictions do not allow life without parole sentences for any juvenile offenders. Currently 123 prisoners have been sentenced to life without parole, and the majority of them are in Florida. The

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Locatea recent criminal Supreme Court case you find interesting.Providea brief summary and properly cite the case.

Writea 700- to 1,400-word paper in which you answer the following questions:

?What interested you about this case?

?What are the sources, purposes, and jurisdictions of the criminal law related to this case?

?What is accomplice liability and criminal liability? How does it relate to the case?

?What is the difference between the various elements of crime, includingactus reus,mens rea, and concurrence? How do they relate to the case?