Teen faces community service for fatal accident
A 15-year-old Saratoga Springs boy who hit and killed a 4-year-old boy has been ordered to perform 185 hours of community service. November 13th, 2008 @ 11:10am
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I hope she serve jail time AND long time probation.
Second, Saratoga didn't prosecute, it was Utah County.
Sometimes, lock up isn't the best option, the best option being the punishment that is best in line with the juvenile justice system. What is better, locking this boy up for 6 months with some really bad kids, or forcing him to serve his community?
This is what our system does folks, it only hardens criminals and makes them worse on their way out.
Swedish prisons are very effective. They have one of the lowest crime rates in the world. When their citizens commit crimes, they get intense psychological therapy, and make sure they understand the importance of being a productive citizen.
Our system only produces more criminals.
If it were up to me, the parent would undergo intense parental therapy, and the kid would undergo some intense psychological therapy -- teach the kid (and the parent) the importance of being productive members of society, and make sure they understand that we all cooperate so we can all live happier lives, including the kid and the parent.
it works for Sweden, guys. They have one of the lowest crime rates in the world. Isn't that what justice really is? Less crime?
not saying i wasn't illegal, but i sure as hell didn't, and wouldn't have, killed anyone. this kid should've gotten a full year of service. 6 days a week, after school and all day saturday, and then went in to be re-evaluated to see if they would do it for another year.
ever picked up trash on the side of the road in snowy freezing weather? makes you wish you would've drank more before the cops confiscated it.
How would you feel if somebody took your mothers/wifes/daughter/sisters life and all they had to do was community service? Would you be satisfied with that?
Again I ask, if this is not sufficient punishment, what would you require, keeping in mind the maximum penalty allowed by law?
I'm not a judge or lawyer so I can't tell you which which punishment is legally correct, but locking him up in prison wouldn't hurt.
I can tell you that the maximum for neg homicide is 1 year in jail, not prison. Now, knowing that the maximum is usually reserved for the most heinous and repeat offenders, how does yanking this kid out of his life and locking him up with the worst kids the state has produced going to help the situation? Are the chances that it will only hurt his chances in life greater than the chance that it will help him?
ASSASINATED..ha ha ha.. been reading to many Dick Tracy books... get real
Lock the kid up where he'll get more bad influence, and he'll likely come out a hardened criminal... and perhaps ruin more lives.
The only thing that can help this family is forgiveness.
Both were accidents, both ended tragically. I'd actually argue that there was more negligence on the adult messing around with homemade explosives. This was a 15 year old CHILD that made a horrible mistake and will live with that mistake, not intentional harm, for the rest of his life.
Where is your sympathy and compassion now?
Bodaggits I firmly agree with you.
I was saying all the family can do is forgive the boy for what he did. Nothing is going to bring back their child, even vengeance. The heart ache, resentment, and feelings of malice all are as gun powder waiting to be ignited (in addition to being difficult feelings to bare).
Forgiveness is the only real solution. Killing the 15 year old won't bring back your son, and living with guilt and anguish is unreasonable. Live and let die.
I'm reminded of Christ's words for Peter:
"Those who fight by the sword, will die by the sword."
Without knowing this boys history, I have to give deference to the judge and accept that this is an appropriate punishment. Now, if we are talking about the low lifes that killed that Menchaca girl in a gang drive by shooting, I'm all for lengthy prison terms there. Those are lives whose path was likely set a long time ago and the way back now lost.
punching this kid is vengeance duh this is why we have a JUSTICE system.
Maybe you are right, and some of those who have posted wouldn't actually act in the way they say. But perhaps, they really would. Why are they free to state they would assault or kill, but when someone (me) tries to get them and others to see that this is not just a bad idea, but criminal, I'm taken to task?
For that matter, isn't the purpose of this board exactly what we are doing? I would suggest that if defending your opinion or being criticized for it are too much for some, this might not be an appropriate past time.
You would have to take yourself in your own hands.
I hope if you ever are the cause of an accident you offer yourself up to the family of the victim.
I'm not saying the ruling is right, here. I'm just saying CS is not as easy/breezy as you think. It is humiliating, exhausting, unpleasant and on the bright side...you get to hang with some real strange people.
This was a accident not intended tragic as it is he will never forget what happened I am sure.
I've heard of people convicted of stealing a loaf of bread getting one year in jail.
THIS IS OUTRAGEOUS!!!
Actually, having no insurance was not his fault, nor was he charged with that. And the sentence was 185 hours, not 150.
They need to tatoo a picture of the 4-year-old on his little wrist that the judge slapped, so he won't ever forget what he did.
The 15 yo. certainly had no intention of running over and killing this little boy, but I wonder if charging him with neglagent homicide or vehicular manslaughter would really do anyone any good. It is the mother who bears the ultimate responsibility in this case.
Hopefully he will love his family more than ever because life is uncertain and sometimes fleeting. I hope you never have to step into his shoes and then make a stupid decision that will ruin you life and the lives of the rest of your family.
From my recollection of this story this isnt the first time this kid has driven his mothers car so explain to me why this kid is getting a slap on the wrist to do it again (and you know it will happen again). He should not have the privledge to drive and it is a privledge to drive.
It is tragic and devestating. But it is still an accident. Yes this one was preventable by not allowing an underage drive behind the wheel, but in the end still an accident.
my family's prayers go out to the child's family.
Accidents happen a 4 year old on a little bike in a busy drop off zone is gonna be hard to see for any one. This is a accident and this kids has to deal with this the rest of his life. Community service is a much better way to punish a otherwise good kid than throwing him to the wolves.
To me, this is a blatent '[removed]. I'll do what I want. you cant touch me.', and look what happened. Plus the mother supported it. There should be no sympathy the second time around.
2. Why was the 4 year old not wearing a helmet?
3. Why was the 4 year old not being supervised by his parents?
2. I've heard nothing to say that the child was or was not wearing a helmut.
3. Mom was right there, I believe just about to follow him across the crosswalk.
I believe that he should have been wearing a helmet not a helmut. :)
I remember I wanted to back out of the driveway before I got my driver's license and my mom wouldn't let me because she said it was against the law to drive without a license even if it was just in the driveway. Thanks Mom!
Point of the story, locking up a 15 year old in our system would only create more of an educated criminal. He would make friends with other juveniles who are doing a lot more than accidently hitting a child while driving a car. They are committing violent and far more excessive "crimes". This accident was one of negligence and I agree that more should have been done other than community service. But who are we to say what the consequences should be? Honestly I think that boy and his mother will never forget what they did. They will be haunted by the death of that child for a very long time. Leave it at that and let God to the rest of the judging.