Outrage expressed for Pa. hazing decision

[MaineDem]

HONESDALE, Pa. -- Supporters of students allegedly victimized in a brutal football camp sexual assault expressed outrage after a judge apparently ordered the older boys accused of carrying out the hazing to be tried as juveniles rather than adults.

Wayne County President Judge Robert J. Conway ordered his decision Wednesday sealed. But reaction outside the courthouse suggested that he decided against trying the three students from Mepham High School in Bellmore, N.Y., as adults.

Some relatives and other supporters of the alleged victims lashed out in angry condemnation of the judge and the justice system as tears and hugs were shared.

http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2003/11/13/outrage_expressed_for_pa_hazing_decision/

[ThorsteinVeblen]

1. 10 to 1 that the Robert J. Conway has ties to one of the

perps. fathers.

20 to 1 that Robert J. Conway is Republican.

[11 Bravo]

2. Meanwhile a 14 year old African-American boy

sits in some hell hole of a Florida prison pursuant to being tried as an adult for murder after a wrestling move he saw on TV turned tragically wrong. Makes you proud to be a "Murcan" doesn't it?

[flamingyouth]

3. Took the words right out of my mouth

I thought of that tragic case as well. Sick and wrong.

[MaineDem]

7. I think that was very wrong!

He's just a child.

[maggiemay]

9. ?

What case is that?

[Loonman]

4. Scumbags

Maybe they'll get the shit kicked out of them in Juvy.

[northzax]

5. good. they should be

just because other cases involved trying children as adults, doesn't mean this shoul. in fact, none of them should.

[MaineDem]

6. I'm torn on this

I think, basically, I feel that a juvenile is a juvenile. If they are to be tried as adults let it be in the law that, regardless of age, everyone is treated the same. Children do not have the same experience, knowledge, reason that adults have.

I'm willing to hear other arguments.

[MissMarple]

8. And not neurologically developed until about age 20.

Just another little reason. Trying children as adults is an issue that will need to be addressed in the not too far distant future. And cruel bullies though the football players are, I think the adults who were in charge bear equal responsibility.

[lefty_mcduff]

10. I never understood trying Juveniles as Adults.

If you're going to have a 'Juvenile Justice System' then ALL juvenilles should be tried in it. This, obviously, should be based on whatever cut-off age is decided. You can't pick and choose based on the seriousness of the crime (who decides?) and (much more likely) the wealth of the juvenile's family and/or the skin color of the young perp.

Not a popular belief, I know, but it's the only way that the Juvenile 'tag' makes any sense to me.

[0rganism]

11. Maybe there are times when adults should be tried as juveniles, too

Like when the perp is a rich white republican radio show host...

[keopeli]

12. The fact is, no one has a good scientific basis for what makes an adult

Nevertheless, we have to have laws like drinking ages, driving ages, draft eligibility ages, guardianship limits, etc.

I've always said that the choice of what age will be used is random until we have some scientific reality to turn to. So, until that day, we must randomly choose an age by our best judgement.

The problem is that we have so many different ages. In Hawaii, a person 14 years old can have sex with a 60 year old and it is legal, period. In most states, a 20 year old buying a beer can be cited and arrested. An 18 year old can choose to die in a war, or possibly be forced to do so by the government.

The answer to this canundrum is to choose one age for everything and stick with it until we know better, don't you think? It's not the perfect solution, but I believe it is the best one for now.