Long terms for young draw fire

lloyd007 (anonymous) says...

DO THE CRIME..DO THE TIME..

July 29, 2009 at 12:54 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

jimjones (anonymous) says...

Who cares, lock'em up and throw away the key. Better yet, try'em and fry'em!

July 29, 2009 at 1:05 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

UrGatorbait (anonymous) says...

Lock up the young ones for a long time but let the older ones go free..what a hayseed system custom made for hayseed central...

July 29, 2009 at 1:55 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

MC29461 (anonymous) says...

Who cares what a bunch of liberal tea sipping University of Texas professors think.

Let's ask some Texas A&M professors to study the problem and I'll bet they will design an death penalty express lane for us like they have in Texas.

Liberals always think they know more than the rest of us. Instead of spending so much on prisons for these young violent offenders perhaps we should just give them all scholarships to the LBJ School of Public Affairs at the University of Texas at Austin and let these wise professors witness a little of our reality.

July 29, 2009 at 3:49 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

GAL2000 (anonymous) says...

I do agree thus far that there is a major problem with our youth and the crime sentencing structure in this state, but in my opinion, the problems that I witness, and deal with in the courts each week come from an even deeper seed. Meaning, what and how these children were brought up/raised, and where and when did they get lost on the way, and who cared about them or for them.

But, I do agree, if you "do the crime, do the time". It's heartbreaking at times to take on a case involving a youth who went wrong and most of the time that youth went wrong because the parent(s) did not give that child the time, love, caring, and nuturing that is so desired. Sometimes I see some really good kids out there, that just went wrong, because they were not cared and loved for, and they had to survive. Just my small opinion added thus far.

July 29, 2009 at 5:51 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

realamerican (anonymous) says...

Posted by MC29461

"Let's ask some Texas A&M professors to study the problem and I'll bet they will design an death penalty express lane for us like they have in Texas."
---------------------------------------------

You say that like you think it is a good thing.

Murderous little conservative christian aren't you? Or should I just say conservative?

July 29, 2009 at 6:54 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

mb300sl (anonymous) says...

Some people don't want to become "productive adults"...break the law, go to jail or the death chamber!

July 29, 2009 at 7:06 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

zekemire (anonymous) says...

These do gooder groups need to be muzzled legally! Someone who murders another person, regardless of their age when the murder is committed, IS A MURDERER! Rehabilitation is a false promise! Murderers will always be murderers! Rapist will always be rapist! YOU CANNOT REALIGN THEIR BRAINS WITH A FALTY SYSTEM KNOWN AS REHABILITATION! THERE IS NO SUCCESS, PERIOD, IN THAT IDIOTIC PROGRAM!

July 29, 2009 at 7:07 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

wildbillz50 (anonymous) says...

It's a sad thing when we have to deal with a child who commits acts of violence.But WE NEED to send these kids a message.A gun in the hands of a young one means he/she is toting it just looking for the opportunity to use it and it could be YOU that ends up on the wrong end of that gun .

July 29, 2009 at 7:15 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

shoelaces (anonymous) says...

Give us some statistics from other states and their juvenile justice system laws. Let's see some tried and true data before we change anything. If there is sufficient evidence of effective rehabilitation using other methods, then consider changing.

However, if someone commits a heinous crime at an early age, shows no remorse, tries to hide the blame, then that's a different story...

July 29, 2009 at 7:18 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

Larz13 (anonymous) says...

The deeper problem that the report does not state but is the "read between the lines" is the fact that there is a large percentage of irresponsible parents in this state.

Let the betwetter appeaser libs have their report. It is obvious to sane thinking people why it was released now.

July 29, 2009 at 7:24 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

ln1959 (anonymous) says...

zekemire...For you to say that all people who commite murder will never be anything but a murderer is somewhat wrong. There have been people who have committed murder and got out to be very productive citizens. Here is one of those people I speak of:

http://www.starpulse.com/Actors/Dutto...

July 29, 2009 at 7:29 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

MP (anonymous) says...

Colleges are all bastions of ultra-liberalism so what do you expect. As a SC resident, I dont give a rip what some whiners in Texas say. Juvenile courts are for juvenile crimes. Do an adult crime, go to adult court. Age should have nothing to do with it if it involves violence. This person killed his grandparents in their sleep with a shotgun and then tried to cover it up by burning down the house. Premeditated murder and arson. He is damn lucky he got only 30 years. That means, if he does not get early release, he will probably be back in prison in 31.

July 29, 2009 at 8:06 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

MP (anonymous) says...

The study quotes "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." Horse droppings. Show me the statistics where juvenile criminals benefit from "rehabilitative services." Almost all of the adult criminals in our prison system also have juvenile records. There was no rehabilitation. That is just fairy dust.

July 29, 2009 at 8:10 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

GeneralSumter (anonymous) says...

Larz13 said, "... there is a large percentage of irresponsible parents in this state."

Bingo. Totally agree.

As far as Pittman goes, if he was being a "boy" and playing army by aiming the shotgun at his grandpa and accidentally shot him, then sure, juvie may rehabilitate him. But instead, he reloaded and shot his grandma too. That's cold blood and premeditated. I don't care how old he was, he knew right from wrong and I don't think 30 years is too much... might not be enough!

I heard this report on the news this morning and thought "worst in the nation" more like best in the nation. They have their ranking scale backwards.

July 29, 2009 at 8:13 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

Cid95 (anonymous) says...

"A new study has concluded that South Carolina has the worst record in the nation for sentencing children to long, mandatory prison terms..."

I read this and thought "damn, SC must have some stupid laws that make it harder to try young criminals as adults" and thus we do it less than other places in the nation.

But WTF? Treating criminals like criminals is a bad thing now?

July 29, 2009 at 8:16 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

nopartisan_noproblem (anonymous) says...

In1959, that was a manslaughter charge from a street fight where he claimed self defense. A lot different from shooting both of your grandparents. Thats pre-meditated. The question is not whether or not the can rehabilitate from murder. The question is do they deserve the chance to. No. The person(s) they murdered never got a chance to change anything in their lives.

July 29, 2009 at 8:16 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

RTC (anonymous) says...

Concerning past articles on Pittman I had already stated my opinion.
His was a vicious, premeditated, most heinous crime.
There was no case of a poor child that just snapped and didn't realize what they had done.
The Justice For Juveniles group can scream til doom's day that Zoloft was the criminal not Pittman. I don't buy it, and apparently, neither did a jury.
It must also be taken into consideration that Pittman was held in a juvenile facility until he was 17 yrs. old.
The only crime here was that a caring pair of grandparents were violently robbed of their golden years by a mean and vindictive brat.
Case closed.

July 29, 2009 at 8:25 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

ccfromsc (anonymous) says...

I have an idea. These bleeding hearts for these miscreant children should do this: Allow the child criminal out to live in their house! IF the child criminal does another crime like that of what they are in for... that bleeding heart finishes the first sentence.

How is that?

July 29, 2009 at 9:04 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

tc1 (anonymous) says...

I agree, do the crime do the time, age aside. I also believe never say never. Should the 3 yo who shot his 4 yo brother recently go to jail or should the adult who left the gun in reach be charged with say involuntary manslaughter.

July 29, 2009 at 9:06 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

sassee (anonymous) says...

The longer they are in jail, the longer it is before they can rob, murder, or rape someone. LEAVE THEM IN THEIR!

July 29, 2009 at 9:13 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

yird (anonymous) says...

Deitch said she and her team no longer work on the Pittman case and she didn't know a hearing was coming up.

Can anyone say liar?

"State policies allowing for the prosecution of children in adult court contradict the consensus of the most up-to-date scientific research."

It's really comforting to know that we have these pointy headed progressives like Deitch to highlight our reluctance to be governed by "their" up to date scientific research, whatever the heck that is supposed to be.

These liberal bed wetters are a product of the flawed teaching of Dr.Spock along with major doses of touchy feelgood fluff created on the government controlled public broadcasting system, such as Mr Rogers and his little friends. Big bird is pretty important also!

There are bad children whether all these professionals care to admit it or not.

I have a neighbor who is an absolute authority on child rearing always describing what others should do to raise up their children.

He of course has never had any children after sixty plus years, but what does that matter?

July 29, 2009 at 9:17 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

tc1 (anonymous) says...

"He of course has never had any children after sixty plus years, but what does that matter?"

Hope he!! is customized. Heh, heh, heh

July 29, 2009 at 9:26 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

SharonF (anonymous) says...

I wish everyone who has commented so far would read a second story on page 3B of today's Post and Courier: "S.C. ranks 45th in child well-being." Then go on-line to read the individual statistics for South Carolina at datacenter.kidscount.org
Could there be a connection between the two stories?

July 29, 2009 at 9:30 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

MP (anonymous) says...

haroldsrevenge- where can any person in their right mind equate stealing cash (Parish) to killing your own grandparents with a shotgun in their sleep and then trying to burn down the house? If the kid was caught for stealing, I agree, treat him like a juvenile. He wasn't caught stealing. You would be talking different tune if the grandparents were your relatives.

I was the victim of an attempted mugging one night. Four "juveniles" followed me to my car after work one night at 10PM. As I got to my car and turned around, they had formed a semi-circle around me. The kid right in front of me, with eyes just like this kid's mug shot, said "yo, give it up man." I pulled out my service weapon and pointed it between his eyes. All four turned and ran like hell. They are lucky training kept me from shooting them. While they were never caught, I will put odds on all four being either in prison or dead by now. How do I know they were juveniles? I don't. None, however, looked over 14 or 15.

Why am I relating this? Because unless you or someone close to you is a victim of a violent crime, you do not understand. These are not "children" as you call them. They are criminals who chose to live outside the rules of society and will never be rehabilitated. The behavior will continue until one of two things happens. They are incarcerated or dead. Either way they left a stream of victims until that happens.

July 29, 2009 at 9:30 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

ColdBud (anonymous) says...

"A new study has concluded that South Carolina has the worst record in the nation for sentencing children to long, mandatory prison terms..."

This is something to be proud of. Now if we can only get a reputation like Texas or Florida as being one of the states to most often apply the death penalty...

We do not have a shortage of youth that have their act together. As for the scum bag criminal youth, keep them out of society before they make more innocent people victims.

Don't want to see your kids in prison? Raise them properly.

July 29, 2009 at 9:31 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

charlestonnative1963 (anonymous) says...

This is nothing new. SC holds the record for hanging or executing the youngest person in America. And once again, the person was found to be innocent AFTER the hanging.

July 29, 2009 at 9:36 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

blswb3 (anonymous) says...

Somewhere along the road, we have lost our collective minds! It may be true that we are locking up a lot of violent, out-of-control young people. I don't know the stats for the whole state, but North Charleston was named one of the most violent cities in the U.S. - I bet most of the other big cities in SC are close. We have high poverty rates, high dropout rates and even for our HS graduates - low literacy levels. We are locking kids up because we gave up long ago! You can blame it on the parents, or the schools or the commie-pinko liberals, or the wacko ultra conservatives:or global warming for that matter the truth is, the blame game never seems to actually solve the problem. What if we came together as a community, threw out our collective egos, and put our heads together to solve the problem? Bring the whole community to the table business, government, education, human service agencies, churches:and you and me. Let's start with very young children...research is showing that by the age of six, we pretty much are who we are. Let's not blame anyone for how a family got in the situation they are in - they are where they are - let's make sure the young people do not suffer as a result. From the inner city to the most rural areas, let's provide robust neighborhood child care for all kids. Everyone in the community can participate in making them healthy environments physically, socially, and educationally. (Check out the city of Reggio Emilia in Italy.) Let's make sure all children are well supervised until they reach the age of reason. Let's turn off televisions and walk away from video games and all become mentors to help provide stability in a child's life when their parents cannot or will not. You can close your eyes but we will pay for human needs up -front by properly serving our children when they are young, or we will continue on our current path - paying for it later by high crime rates and over-crowded jails. I am betting there are smart business men out there running successful lean businesses who could mentor the process of creating a system that really works - and costs us a lot less in the long run. (You are out there, aren't you? Are you sitting on community boards to help develop the existing agencies?)What can you do to change these statistics and maybe put SC on the map for actually caring about its citizens? Disconnect your cable TV with all of its violence and smut and send that wasted money to an organization in your community that serves children. Pass up the chance to eat out at least once a week and send that money to a Kid's Cafe program. Call 2-1-1 and pick out a volunteer job that makes a difference to a child or a family in crisis. Serve on a community board. As we heard often in the 60's if you are not part of the solution - you are part of the problem. And the truth is - if you had time to read this entire post - you have time to take action and help bring a positive change to South Carolina.

July 29, 2009 at 9:37 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

charlestonnative1963 (anonymous) says...

sassee. Their--There-they're
Leave them in there.
Their in the jail now.
They're all going to get out of jail soon.

July 29, 2009 at 9:42 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

SCHoser (anonymous) says...

harold-this isn't about misdemeanor crimes or some petty bs, this is about violent offenders-murderers! We may be able to convince little Johnny that petty theft is wrong and not to do it again-not sure we can even do that-but how do we undo the madness that makes them ruthlessly butcher others? It is quite clear that the case study knew exactly what he was doing-premeditated murder! To equate that with "daycare criminals who steal another toddler's cookies" is just crazy. We see everyday young people with violent pasts that kill others and people are sick of it. Now some want to complain that we are too hard on murderers?

July 29, 2009 at 9:43 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

charlestonbill (anonymous) says...

Where were this kids parents?? He shot and killed his grandparents at 12 years old!! This is a poster child!! WTF is this all about. He took two peoples lives!! He only got 30 years?? I hope he searved every single day of the full term!!

Interesting this study comes from a school in Texas. Isn't this is a state famous for capital punishment. It is important to let the punishment fit the crime. I'm not interested in the results of UT Austin findings. I'm more interested in protection from the law by locking up these young SOBs. No wonder why there is an increase in CW permits and increased sales of firearms.

July 29, 2009 at 9:56 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

SCHoser (anonymous) says...

I don't know of a single person who doesn't gag or cringe when they hear about people abusing kids. It is horrible, and those people should be punished harshly-not many things are lower than abusing children. But even with that, can that excuse violent criminal behavior? Does it suck that they were abused and mistreated? Sure it does, but do we put more credence on the cause or result? How do rehabilitate, or cure, these sick twisted minds-even though it's not their fault they end up that way, it is what it is. What do we do? How many are we willing to sacrifice so we can have a clear conscience? We do need to step up in protecting children for sure, that is a good first step. But letting murderers of any age go free with minimum punishment is NOT the answer.

July 29, 2009 at 10:09 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

alwaysamazed (anonymous) says...

So, really, the only problem that people have is that the study came out now?? No one has a problem with a state that has no age limit? So, South Carolina can sentence a 7 year old to thirty years, and that's okay? Really?
I think that all of you just like to run your mouths all day, and say a bunch of stupid things to keep the banter going. This is serious! We live in a state that would rather lock a young child up in adult prison, with no rehabilitation, and then walk away. What is going to happen when these kids finally get released? Has anything been done to stop the violence? Has anything been done to ensure that this doesn't happen again? Why is this allowed?
I know that this won't compare, but if your child messes up, you punish them....but, you also work to make sure that they don't make the same mistake again. Is that being done in this state? Because just locking them up, and turning your back for thirty years ain't gonna do it!! I think that it's just pure laziness.

July 29, 2009 at 10:12 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

SCHoser (anonymous) says...

Just tell us how to rehabilitate a 12 year old who puts a shotgun to someone's head, does it again and then burns down the house. Once we figure that out, the rest is gravy. Maybe there are cases where the kid is just a bad apple and needs to be away from the rest of us. Sounds bad, but what do we do? How do we do it?

July 29, 2009 at 10:38 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

scrisn (anonymous) says...

Again P&C you ran this story yesterday and today top 3. Were you hoping for more debate on here.

Again all cold blood murders should be sentenced to death in a public venue 30 days after they have been found guilty of the crime. At 12 years old you know right from wrong, good vs evil and what not to do. I as a taxpayer am sick and tired of these guys getting everything for free. Better health care, dental, food, and an education at MY expense. My tax money could be better spent on the education system rather then some murder in prison.

Yes I know, they are good people who just made a mistake, didn't mean too, were at the wrong place at the right time. Didn't mean for the gun to go off. Was scared. All the same excuses from the same people. Yes I made mistakes but I never went to jail, killed anyone, and never put myself in the situation to have to do that.

Death is the only sure way to reform these guys. If you killed once the second time is always easier, and it may be your loved one killed.

July 29, 2009 at 10:39 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

blacman (anonymous) says...

who would have thought the revenge had it in him to post with compassion? I have always been concerned about minority kids in the inner city and their plight. No playgrounds, safe ones anyway, dropout rates of the kids in school, having to endure gunshots while playing in their front yards, and no role models except drug dealers and pimps. I escaped poverty and got an education, that doesn't mean I don't still see the difference in how suburban kids dress and act from our inner city urban produced kids. I'm not naive we can't have young thugs going around and committing adult crimes then having their wrists slapped. We need black and white mentors to step up and say I'll help be a part of the solution, otherwise please stop whining when your taxes go sky hi to build more prisons, and especially when most of them are filled with repeat offenders who entered the system as y o u t h s.

July 29, 2009 at 10:39 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

LifetimeLearner (anonymous) says...

Get it RIGHT charlestonnative1963...esp. if you are putting someone else down.

"sassee. Their--There-they're
Leave them in there.
Their in the jail now.
They're all going to get out of jail soon."

"They're in the jail now." would be correct...

July 29, 2009 at 10:39 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

alwaysamazed (anonymous) says...

SCHoser, I'm not sure how you rehabilitate someone at all, but I know that locking them up with hardened adult criminals isn't the answer. The problem in this state, and probably many others, is that we don't do anything!! I'm sure that it's a money thing...but, I'm already paying taxes to keep the prisons going, I want my money's worth. I want to know that they're doing something to stop violence, to educate, to something! Not just warehouse.
And with children, it's been proven that they have the best chance to change, to be "rehabilitated"...so why aren't we doing something? The State's answer is to throw them in prison with adults, where they learn from them, and then we'll just forget about them for some number of years.
This boy was twelve years old! And our solution was to throw him in prison. Was that our only option, because that's pretty scary. What about the boy that shot his brother over the seat on the couch for watching t.v.? What about the boy in Myrtle beach that got mad at his friend, went home, got a gun, came back and shot his friend through the door? If we are going to throw our children away, shouldn't we make sure that we're getting all of them?

July 29, 2009 at 10:46 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

ln1959 (anonymous) says...

nopartisan_noproblem...zekmire did not specify which type of murder a person commites. He/she said " All Murderers". I was just stating the he/she was wrong.

July 29, 2009 at 10:51 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

scrisn (anonymous) says...

always: No mention in the article of a 7 year old. Pittman used a shotgun placed it against his own grandparents head and pulled the trigger 2 seperate times. Tried to set the house on fire, ran from the cops. His actions are those not of a 12 year old innocent boy but those of a psychopath. Reform will not do a mind like that any good and yes he should be put to death. If he can kill soemone he is susposse to love with that ease and noremorse imagine what he can do to a stranger who makes him mad.

Better yet, give him your address and make up a spare room for him. have him stay with you and your familiy and see how much sleep you get.

The child in Myrtle that got into a fight went home got a gun went back and shot his friend through a door. Sorry to tell you but again a cold blooded killer. Death is the only option. He showed motive, he had time to cool off, could have stayed away but he choose at 12 years old to go home get a gun, load it, return to his friends and shoot him.

Now 2 12 yearold wrestling around in the backyard one gets tackled a freak accident happend neck break, a trip and impale, something like that then YES they can be helped. But anyone who shows cold blooded motive and no real remorse has already started becoming the next serial killer on the list.

Ill cut and copy my post from yesterday I have first hand knowledge from kid crime:

July 29, 2009 at 11:14 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

pullmyfinger (anonymous) says...

What the @#$!
Is he wearing eye liner in that photo????

July 29, 2009 at 11:16 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

alwaysamazed (anonymous) says...

Scrisn, the 7 year old comment is fact. Our state does not have an age limit on prison terms. If a 5 year old commits an "adult crime", and the prosecutor wants to go for the gusto...then, nothing stands in his way. And from the comments I've read so far, neither would anyone on this board.
As for the other children that I mentioned, I don't believe that they got the same sentence as this boy...correct me if I'm wrong.
Apparently, he hold the record for youngest person sentenced to such a term...so, I'm going to go out on a limb, and say that the other kids got off a little easier. Wonder why?
As to your comment:"Reform will not do a mind like that any good and yes he should be put to death." How do you know that? Are you a doctor? Are you actually working with kids this age to determine that? Interesting...so, someone has actually tried to reform a 12 year old, and failed miserably, and now they know that it just can't be done? Give me a break...

July 29, 2009 at 11:22 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

SCHoser (anonymous) says...

I guess it's all in what you believe. Honestly, not to downplay it or say it doesn't sicken me, but after that Pittman kid did what he did, does the underlying causes really matter? If you knew your sons friend was just let out of a youth facility or prison for killing his friend over a game, what would you do? If the kid said "yeah-I was pretty pissed so I killed him, but I was abused as a kid and my psychologist says I'm better now", would that put your mind at ease? Everyone is in agreement that child abuse is horrible and needs to be stamped out, but at the same time that can't be an excuse for cold blooded brutal murder.

July 29, 2009 at 11:25 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

scrisn (anonymous) says...

http://www.postandcourier.com/news/20... yesterdays article on the same thing.

Posted by scrisn on July 28, 2009 at 1:58 p.m.

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.

I posted this yesterday on the same article, only it wasn't a top 3 at the time. So you ask me now if I am a doctor or anything. I am not but in this incident I am a part of it did no good what so ever.

July 29, 2009 at 11:31 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

alwaysamazed (anonymous) says...

Hey, the study also talks about other States that are using this practice, I think that the P&C just likes to get things going. If you read some of the study, they actually have a list of kids that have been "rehabilitated" and gone on to be productive members of society.
I guess what really bothers me about all of this is the State's lack of gumption..It won't work, so why even try??!! That's our motto..

July 29, 2009 at 11:32 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

alwaysamazed (anonymous) says...

Scrisn, so what you're saying is that all kids that commit crimes are the same..nothing can ever be done to stop the violence, and so therefore we shouldn't try? Sorry about what happened to you, and it sounds like your guys were on the straight path to prison or death...but, does that mean that all of them are? Does it mean that if the next kid is 10, or 8, that nothing can be done to save them? I find that really cynical and think that it's lazy on the part of the state to assume that a long prison term will fix the problem. Does an 8, or 10, or 12 year old really understand the implication of 30 years in prison? I doubt it. And is it a deterrent to other 8,10 or 12 year olds?? Heck no! So, what is the purpose behind this?

July 29, 2009 at 11:38 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

scrisn (anonymous) says...

Always: I am a divisional loss prevention investigator with a nationwide company. I deal with children on a daily basis. I use the juvenile redirection program for anyone who qualifies. Out of the 183 juvenile cases I made last year only 48 completed the program so far. I have already made 27 rearrests of those from last year this year. They very in age from 11-17. The only time I do not agree with the program is when they steal over $1000.00 which is a felony. I can tell you in court the parents on more then half of the cases, blame the store for high prices, and say we can afford to loose a few things to kids. They don't know why their children were stopped etc etc etc. And it's not race, I get rich white kids, rich black kids, poor white ones and poor black ones. Last chirstimas I along with an officer stopped 2 13 year olds who both had loaded 40 caliber hand guns on them. They were stolen and each had over $500.00 in cash on them. When asked by the officer where they got the guns from they laughed and said they would be released as soon as their parents got down there and they would both be out and buy a new gun. I stopped a 14 year old in Feb with $2800 of Polo clothes she was stealing asked what she was doing with it and she said she steals 3 -4 times a week and gets half of the tag price. When asked she has a 1 year old kid is pregant again and doesn't know who the father was of either child. (She is white btw) she dropped out in the 6th grade, when we came to court well it wasn't pretty. She spent 90 days in DJJ in Columbia, got out and that night was caught again in Columbia with her mother, as she loaded up her stroller with stolen clothes.

If reform will not help these non violent criminals how will it help violent one?

July 29, 2009 at 11:50 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

scrisn (anonymous) says...

Always: I never said 8 or 10, thats why I linked the story from yesterday:

I feel 15 should be the age, with exception taken into account. Pittman yes he should have been tried as an adult.
Until he turns 21 he should be getting intensive psycho thearpy not in jail but in a hospitial. Then at 21 he should be reevaluted. 8-9 years of treatment will be enough to know if he is able to be a viable part of society. If he fails then I see no reason he should be alive. (IMO)

Anyone who between the ages of 12-15 who can kill another human being in COLD BLOOD they should then be tried as an adult but the sentence doesn't take affect until 21, after intensive therapy. Then they are reevaluted and if they are found unreformed then they serve the remainder of their sentence in prison. If they are found reformed then allow then to reenter society and give it a go. They would have graduated high school, (part of the requirement)and can now be a part of a society. If they screw it up again well they had their chance. South Carolina does not have that many cases like this that they need to worry about. In fact the Pittman case from 01 is the last I remember, I also don't agree with the fact it took 4 years to go to trial. He was then 16 and wasn't the same 12 year old that did the crime.

But hey lawmaker never listen to the little guys like ourselves.

July 29, 2009 at 12:05 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

burton (anonymous) says...

Did he show any compassion for his grandparents as he shot them? We always tend to forget about the victims and want to show compassion for the perpetrater. For someone to do this to their grandparents at 12 years of age tells you that he would have committed a bunch of more crimes if he was not caught/convicted.

For once, I would like to see one of these cowards man-up, say they did it, forgo a trail and appeals, not waste our tax payer's money, and ask to be put to death or do their time like a man. You were so big and bad to do the crime, so now man-up and face the consequences. All these cowards do is lawyer up and hope that our joke of a judicial system gets them off. I'm sick of all of this!!

July 29, 2009 at 12:15 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

martinstuart (anonymous) says...

This case is sad, but someone who is capable of using a shotgun on his own grandparents will never be rehabilitated and i dont think anyone should have to die for him to get his second conviction.

What is missing from this story is society's right to be protected from people who are violent.

July 29, 2009 at 12:46 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

alwaysamazed (anonymous) says...

Scrisn, you finally said something that I agree with! The delay in the trial didn't do him any good...the crime was horrific, but the jury didn't get to see the little twelve year old, they saw an almost sixteen year old.
I also agree with what you said about the intense counseling, and that they should be re-evaluated..but, unfortunately, that doesn't happen here.
As for your stories about the other kids, I think that parents need to be held responsible for their kids' actions..and a lot of this stupid crap would stop. Lock Mom and Dad up if their 13 year old is running around with loads of cash, and guns. Maybe someone would start busting that little butt! Maybe, just maybe, people would start caring about what their kids are up to. Right..
Anyways, what happens here is that they throw them into the DJJ until they turn 17, and then they ship them off to adult prison. By the way, there is never an "evaluation" that occurs. There should be, but that might cost some money, or time on the part of the prison system. And we certainly can't have that.

July 29, 2009 at 12:55 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

tj (anonymous) says...

What was the motive?

July 29, 2009 at 1:57 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

mkris (anonymous) says...

Putting kids in jail feels good, panders to the illiterate, conservative south carolinian. It just doesn't do anything constructive and by the time the sentence is served, the only marketable skill the kid has is murder, rape and robbery prefected within the prison walls.
No kid expects to be caught. No kid expects that what happened to a kid 500 miles away in another county will happen to him/her. its the nature of thier underdeveloped brain structure. Thats why kids should be treated differently.

August 12, 2009 at 11:52 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )