Should 17-Year-Olds be Tried as Juveniles or Adults?
Massachusetts is one of 11 states where 17-year-olds are tried and sentenced as adults, but two bills on Beacon Hill seek to change that.
At what age should teenagers be tried as adults when charged with a crime? In Massachusetts, it's anyone 17-years-old or older, but two bills currently on Beacon Hill seek to change that. It's a law that journalists at Patch and elsewhere are well aware of, since we've answered emails and questions from people asking why a 17-year-old arrestee's name had been printed in a police log report. Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 119, Section 52 defines only those 16 and younger as juveniles in the state's court system. The makes the Bay State only one of 11 states that doesn't classify 17-year-olds as juveniles. Most states—38, to be exact—don't treat alleged offenders as adults until they've reached 18-years-old. New York and North Carolina …
Jay L
1:32 pm on Monday, April 15, 2013
If a 17 year old commits a heinous crime such as murder or rape, they should be locked up for a long, long time just like an adult would. For stupid knucklehead stuff like graffiti or minor drug offenses, common sense should be used so that youthful bad decisions don't ruin the lives of otherwise good kids who have made mistakes. Most kids make mistakes but not everyone gets caught. However, most… more ›