Study: S.C.' s treatment of 'kid criminals' worst in nation

singleroni (anonymous) says...

do the crime do the time. old enough to pull the trigger old enough to pay the price

July 28, 2009 at 12:08 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

YouKnowMe (anonymous) says...

Yep - just like everything else in SC best at the bad at everything good and good at everything bad.

Backazzward state!

Keep electing those boss hoggs and this is what you get!

July 28, 2009 at 12:12 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

bridgeoperator (anonymous) says...

I say we need to treat the worse than we do. I agree, old enough to do the crime old enough to do the time. Most are future career criminals. Might as well lock them up now than later.

July 28, 2009 at 12:21 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

mb300sl (anonymous) says...

What's wrong with giving gun-toting, drugheads the time they deserve? Maybe the death penalty would be more effective...

July 28, 2009 at 12:25 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

jammanofdi (anonymous) says...

In my opinion, Christopher Pittman is/was extremely lucky. Had I been in charge of his judgement, he would have received 1 shot in the back of the head.

July 28, 2009 at 12:27 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

scrisn (anonymous) says...

if they know right from wrong, they are NOT too Young to do the time. If they want them to be useful parts of society, theres always a farm in need of some good fertilizer.

If at 15 you don't know the following you might not be saveable:
1- thou shall not kill
2- thou shall not steal
3- don't sell drugs
4- don't do drugs
5- when in doubt read 1-4 again.

and for all you naysayers out there. they can't read, they are from broken homes. etc etc.. boo hoo a river to the families of the victims these kids have destroyed. and for those that say about the education, they should have gone to school rather then getting in trouble or sitting down on the corner.

July 28, 2009 at 12:28 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

YouKnowMe (anonymous) says...

OMG - you people are hard core jerks!

You only say these things because you have a certain image in your head about who you think these kids are.......but if they were white middle class kids or your kids it would be completely different.

Separate but equal serves your kind just fine, right?

July 28, 2009 at 12:43 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

MJ (anonymous) says...

I think the details of Christopher Pittman's case are important before we rush to judgement. He was taking an anti-depressant that is known to cause psychotic episodes. His sentence is very harsh.

July 28, 2009 at 12:44 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

rgsno (anonymous) says...

MJ they proved in court that the anti-depressant had nothing to do with the killings.
Look at the facts:
1. He shot both grandparents point blank.
2. He set the house on fire to cover it up.
3. He stole their car and tried to run.
4. When caught he lied and said that a Black Man had broken into the house killed his grandparents and kidnapped him.

He is phsycotic, but not from Zoloft. This kid is where he belongs and should be there for the rest of his life. He's lucky he got 30 years.

Just so you know he was offered a plea deal and turned it down.

July 28, 2009 at 1:05 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

jimjones (anonymous) says...

Um.....YouKnowMe...isn't the Pittman kid white?

MJ, millions of people took the same anti-depressant. You're telling me he was the one case that turned violent. Oh and didn't he also come up with some story about a black dude killing his family?

Crime = Time, although I think we should be executing them.

July 28, 2009 at 1:07 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

summerville_guy (anonymous) says...

YouKnowMe,

Christopher Pittman WAS a white middle class kid.

In my opinion, he did not get what he deserved.

He deserved the death penalty.

July 28, 2009 at 1:10 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

R_U_Kidding_Me (anonymous) says...

Let the punishment fit the crime. I think that's a quote from Gilbert & Sulivan but it's true.
His victims are just as dead as if they were killed by a 30 year old.

July 28, 2009 at 1:15 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

divagranny (anonymous) says...

If our treatment is the worst in the nation please tell me why the HORLBACK BROTHERS were still roaming the streets to kill and harm people, just a thought, PEACE

July 28, 2009 at 1:20 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

cb74 (anonymous) says...

I love how when the article is about a white middle class boy who majority are saying should have received the death penalty you still have that one moron that says it's about race blah blah blah! I don't care if he was purple or pink or green he killed two people kill him!

July 28, 2009 at 1:23 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

Lovely_One (anonymous) says...

divagranny, you took the thought right out of my head. I was just about to type the exact same thing. So, I second your thought/question!

July 28, 2009 at 1:23 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

Lovely_One (anonymous) says...

YouKnowMe,

You post is a prime example of why race should not be brought up as a factor in EVERY single story. The kid that they are speaking of, Christopher Pittman, is a middle class white kid.

July 28, 2009 at 1:26 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

MP (anonymous) says...

It is a matter of opinion whether or not this is the worst or the best. What South Carolina law says is that people will be held accountable for their actions- especially violent crimes against others. Just because you may be under 18, you do adult crimes, you suffer adult punishment. The bleeding heart liberals are going to come out of the woodwork on this one. They actually still believe that "rehabilitation" works. Forrest had it right. "Stupid is as stupid does."

July 28, 2009 at 1:36 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

SCHoser (anonymous) says...

How do you rehabilitate someone who put a shotgun to 2 persons heads? How does this happen and how do you know he is rehabilitated? We have so many youths that are out on the streets right now as we speak that have criminal records, and many are long and for violent crime. We see it in the news daily. People are fed up with getting gunned down, raped and robbed by these pint sized thugs and I don't blame them. Many of them commit crime and believe they can get away with it because of their age. Young Pittman got far better than he gave and much better than he deserved. We aren't talking about shoplifting here or possession of paraphernalia, the kids they are citing are hard core violent criminals that need to be away/out of society. At the least away from me and my family, have them around yours if you wish at your own peril I say.

July 28, 2009 at 1:41 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

YouKnowMe (anonymous) says...

I was thinking of all the other cases out there, not this specific white kid.

We are a killing state - just look at the posts about everything from illegals (kill them) to welfare moms (kill them) to drug dealers (kill them) to sick nutso kids (kill them) mentally disabled people (kill them).

Dang people - let just solve the whole problem and kill every one!

July 28, 2009 at 1:42 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

fred_durst1 (anonymous) says...

Sounds like SC has done something right. Keep up the good work.

July 28, 2009 at 1:49 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

onesidedsquare (anonymous) says...

YouKnowMe
why not add just every one who rejects being a productive member of society?

July 28, 2009 at 1:50 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

cb74 (anonymous) says...

I agree SCHoser for once, let them live around your families if you don't think anything should be done to them because I sure don't want them near mine. I can see a five year old playing with a loaded weapon & opps it fires & kills someone well that was an accident no he/she shouldn't be killed for that. But a 12 year old puts a shotgun to his grandparents head & pulls the trigger then burns the house down & then pins it on someone else. Kill him or let him move in next door or even with you, youknowme you take care of him because he obviously only needs a little bit of rehab & love. Hopefully you can do it right or end up like grandma & grandpa.

July 28, 2009 at 1:52 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

scrisn (anonymous) says...

There once was a movie about violent felons being put on an island to fend for themselves. If they killed each other ohh well. was a minimal cost to watch the island maybe we need to resort to these type of tactics.

Ohh btw if I sound biased it is because I am. several years ago and many moons I was carjacked by a 14 and a 15 year old as I stopped for gas at 2 am after work. I loved the 67 stitches across my head and face after being pistol whipped, fractured jaw, 3 teeth knocked out, broken nose. Ohh and the kids got off light because they were poor deprieved kids, from broken homes and they swore the gun wasn't loaded. They each served until they were 21 in a djj facality then were released. 1 was killed 6 months later here in Charleston in a drug deal gone bad and the other killed 2 people in Columbia in less then a year after his release. Yeah reform did them good. Could have saved me many trips to Columbia to trestify, increased car insurance payment (they totaled my truck), 70k in medicial bills including plastic surgery because they couldn't pay a thing or either could their low income families. It was priceless in court to hear how they were all good kids never meant to hurt anyone and have no chance at life they just wanted to taste what the rich had. The families never showed any remorse to me and never even said they were sorry for what my family went through.

BTW still paying $150 a month to Trident because my medical insurance lapsed, and I had 3 days until i was on the wives.

Tough Laws and jail for kids come commit tough crimes.

July 28, 2009 at 1:58 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

JustJennings (anonymous) says...

The reason kids are so bad today is the result of the way they are raised by their parents and treated by society. The education system is a failure, so it is difficult to see what else we could expect.

July 28, 2009 at 2:03 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

scrisn (anonymous) says...

Education system is not a failure. My child graduated from public high school 3 years ago, has gone to college and making something from his life. I taught him the way I was raised with respect and a sense of understanding. Yes kids acted out in school all the time, I had my son bring home what he didn't understand arrange to stay after for help, and at 15 had a part time job. I taught him how to be a man. He goes to Michigan on a scholarship he obtained himself and will graduate early this fall with honors. He will then go into the service and wants to become a doctor. I am proud of how I raised my son, and I wasn't and am not rich. I used the public school system, and taught my child responsibility.

The many bad apples spoil a bunch but if you look many will rise to the top and meet the challenge.

July 28, 2009 at 2:12 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

SCHoser (anonymous) says...

People will only get out of the school system what they put in, much like the rest of life. You don't have to beat your kids into submission or shame them endlessly. There are a few exceptions to every rule of course, but in a nutshell your kids will be a product of you. Let's say that there is a kid who was beaten from day 1, picked on at school without mercy. He decides that age 14, he has had enough and goes on a killing spree. What do we do with him then? Do we put more credence on the causes or results of his life? Where do we put him? How do we rehabilitate him? What if the little jerks at Columbine had lived and were arrested, what do with them? SC has it on the right track I think, but there is room for improvement as some have stated. Too many rap sheet thugs running around continuing to rape pillage and plunder.

July 28, 2009 at 2:22 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

charlestonnative1963 (anonymous) says...

First you did not want to spank them, Now its dont lock them up in jail. Make up your mind. Maybe if the paddle had been used with some of these they MIGHT not be so hard headed

July 28, 2009 at 2:23 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

SuperRog (anonymous) says...

Let's not forget that in the Pitman case, the Supreme Court declined to hear an appeal to reduce the sentence. This occurred on April 14 2008.

i.e. It's not just SC that is tough on sentencing. For what it's worth, I have NO sympathy for criminals no matter how old or young they are.

July 28, 2009 at 2:30 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

SpokenTruth (anonymous) says...

SCHoser I like your comment. We have to realize that the case being used deals with the crime of MURDER! The most violent crime that one can commit. The intentional taking of a life. Two in this case. Also by the way this juvenile was white. But this shouldn't matter because the focus should be on the crime committed. We have to look at the intent. I'm sorry, just think about the case. First you shoot two people (grandparents) with a shotgun. Then you go find something that you know is going to start a fire to cover up the evidence. Then you lead the police on wild goose chase. And once you are caught, you make up a story that someone broke into the house. Sounds like someone knew what was going on and what he wanted to accomplish. Oh and by the way the whole medicine defense is crazy. It's used all the time by defense attorneys and they have the right to. No disrespect to Ms. Dietch, but how do you know that a certain person is rehabilitated from such a horrible crime. Then if you find some ideological way to determine this, are you willing to let this person live next to you. The problem is many scholars derive these theories that look great on paper. The problem is how this theory is going to work in the real world. To me it sounds absurd that you can determine if a person is rehabilitated for such a crime. The problem is that the correction system as a whole is broken. I know it sounds generic, which it is, but there is no other way to put it. Just take the Horlback's for example which has been stated. Why were they out of jail in the first place? The reason is because there is no truth in sentencing anymore. If these criminals know that they are going to get a sentence such as 10 years suspended upon 2 years probation then why not go out and commit these violent crimes. The courts are not addressing the problems that are going on. They are giving these criminals a slap on the hand and most of the time they are missing! Until someone stands up and demand change, it will continue to be the same! The handling of criminals needs to be revisited from the youngest to the oldest. When that gets done, then we will see a better society as far as crime is concerned..

July 28, 2009 at 2:49 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

MP (anonymous) says...

There is no such thing as rehabilitation. It does not work. Never did, never will.

England, for well over a century, took all of its bad criminals to an island and let them off to fend for themselves. That island is now called Australia. This was unfortunate for the aborigines. We should look for a remote, uninhabited island and do the same. Commit a violent crime- one way ticket, please.

July 28, 2009 at 3:38 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

lowcountrydawg (anonymous) says...

"Children should be handled in the juvenile justice system, where they can obtain the rehabilitative services and programs necessary to help them become productive adults."

BS...all that does is make them become adult criminals committing more heinous, violent crimes...

Damn liberals!

July 28, 2009 at 4:19 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

alwaysamazed (anonymous) says...

What is an adult crime? I'm just trying to make sure that I understand....so, if you commit an "adult crime", then you become an adult?
Whatever! If it helps everyone sleep better at night to pretend that a 12 year-old is an adult, then pleasant dreams...but, the fact remains that he was a kid, on two different powerful anti-depressants, and should have been given the help that he needed, instead of 30 years in an "adult"prison. And whoever made the comment about no such thing as rehabilitation, hit the nail on the head.
How will that help society? Maybe it will help everyone get that good night's sleep right now, but what about in 30 years? I say shame on South Carolina! This was their solution?!I guess it makes perfect sense when you think about one of the other things that we rank dead bottom in...like education.

July 28, 2009 at 4:19 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

Sark (anonymous) says...

You know, I think we need to decide how old 15 is (same with 12, 13, etc). As soon as a 12 year old kid commits a crime the usual suspects line up to yell cliches about 'old enough to do the crime'.

Yet what would happen if the state legislature passed a law saying 12 year olds could consent to sex? The same group would start having seizures, saying how they're only kids and shouldn't be allowed to have sex, etc, etc. It seems ever so slightly contradictory to say that 12 year olds are old enough to be treated as an adult when it comes to crime, but not when it comes to sex. After all, the same logic applies; if you're old enough to do the deed...
So, how old is 15?

July 28, 2009 at 4:22 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

MP (anonymous) says...

alwaysamazed- he took a shotgun and put it to two people's heads. People that loved him and helped take care of him. That is not a juvenile. That is a sick, twisted, perverted mind. I feel sorry for people like you. You are part of the problem, not the solution. Your position that age alone can make something excusable is sad and people like you are why the criminal justice system is full of "juvenile" criminals who are repeat offenders. Fortunately, these poor misunderstood "children" will eventually become adults who will receive adult punishment. And it will happen.

July 28, 2009 at 5:05 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

patricia (anonymous) says...

The scientific evidence supports the report. Children are children; they don't think, act, or react as adults do. If they did, they would have all the rights and privileges of adults such as purchasing alcohol, signing legal documents, voting, serving on a jury, etc. It is easy to say hateful and hurtful things without fully understanding the circumstances; it is harder to read a report, read a case, and understand that in most cases these were first-offending children, not a repeat offending adult. We need more compassion, understanding, rehabilitation, education, and support within a juvenile justice system - let's work hard to reform the laws in South Carolina and provide every first-offending youth with the opportunity of rehabilitation, counseling, and education within the juvenile justice system. In the long run it's going to save South Carolina a lot of money. It costs more to incarcerate a child in the adult system for 10, 20, 30 plus years than it does to provide rehabilitation, education, and counseling within the juvenile justice system.

July 28, 2009 at 5:09 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

MC29461 (anonymous) says...

Sark asked: How old is 15?

Old enough to rape and murder without a thought. So why should society give them more consideration than they gave their victims.

To the person who thought the 12 year old, who murdered his grandparents in cold blood, 30 year sentence was too much, I disagree.

For that crime he should have gotten the electric chair, but our courts have lost their spine with regard to both the electric chair and zapping juveniles.

And don't blame antidepressants. A person who kills would have killed on meds or not, it is just another lawyer trick to save a killer to kill again.

While it might seem coldhearted to execute these criminals, it certainly reduces the deadly threat to me and my family.

I do not want to have to carry a firearm every time I go out in public as it is a realization that our community has become too unsafe to be able to travel freely without fear of being harmed.

But I will not become a prisoner in my own home. Criminal's rights end when citizens' freedom are diminished.

July 28, 2009 at 5:13 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

bornin43 (anonymous) says...

Spare the rod - spoil the child. When I was growing up, we knew that if we messed up, we were going to get a wipping. (This was different from a beating.)

Back in the 1970, some one decided that it was wrong to spank a child. Spanking taught violence. But since that time, the violence rate has multiplied drastically.

When a kid sasses a parent or teacher and the only punishment is a "talking to", the next time he dissagrees with someone, he uses his fists. Again, he gets a "talking to". then he uses a gun. It is all a bid to see how much he can get away with.

Even though I used the pronoun "he", the girls are just as bad. Sassy, backtalking, shoplifting, it is all part of the same lack of dicipline.

And for those who say that there are better ways to dicipline a child, I agree, but those other ways only work if they know that corporal punishment is the next step if they misbehave again.

July 28, 2009 at 5:14 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )