nge that practice. In Texas, Pitts is proposing a five point plan where he wants kids as young as 10-years-old to be certified to stand trial as adults. He wants determinant sentencing eliminated when crimes are pre-mediated. The plan allows juveniles to be sentenced to life without parole (1998, May 3). Currently, seventy-four juveniles offenders are waiting to be executed on America’s death rows. Since 1990, only six countries have executed people for crimes they committed as kids: Iran, Yemen, Pakistan, Nigeria, Saudi Arabia, and the United States (1998, February 17). The United States has executed more children than the other five countries combined. On average, for every seven people executed, one person is found innocent. For example, Shareef Cousin was convicted on false testimony. The eyewitness was not able to identify the murderer, but the day of the trial she was “100 percent, absolutely sure” that Shareef was the murderer (1999, February 8). By coincidence, the testimony given by the eyewitness the day of the murder and three days later was lost. In those testimonies, she told the police that she could not see the murderers’ face. Every year, four juveniles are wrongly accused. Kids should be given a second chance guilty or not guilty. By placing these kids in boot camp, they could learn how to be more disciplined and also be a better person. This special camp would be for the capital crime kids. Three years would be the minimum time and the maximum is whatever the judge decides. After boot camp, job training will occur and a job will be assigned to them. They will not be able to leave until they are prepared mentally. Also, they will have an optional class that will help them spiritually. The class would be a Bible study group. This class session will take place once a week and there will always be someone that could help the kid in his or her time of need. Another way of ...
