Charging Children for Adult Crimes

Last month, fifteen year old Matthew Bent agreed to sell a video game to a classmate for $40. When the classmate, Michael Brewer (pictured) - who is also fifteen, failed to pay Bent, the boy attempted to steal Brewer's father's $500 custom built bicycle. Brewer's family reported the incident to the Broward County (Florida) Sheriff's Office. On October 12th, police say that Bent, along with four other children ranging in age from thirteen to fifteen, attacked Michael Brewer, doused him with rubbing alcohol, and set him on fire. A neighbor heard his screams and attempted put out the flames with a fire extinguisher as Brewer jumped into a swimming pool.

One month later, Michael Brewer is still hospitalized in critical condition. He is unable to speak and is heavily sedated. He relied on a ventilator to breathe until yesterday afternoon, when he began breathing on his own. More than sixty-five percent of his body is burned. Skin from a cadaver has been grafted onto his arms and legs. On Monday, the Broward State Attorney's office decided to charge three of the five children as adults. Denver Jarvis and Matthew Bent, both fifteen, and sixteen year old Jesus Mendez were charged with one count of second-degree attempted murder. No charges have been filed against Steven Shelton, also fifteen, or Jeremy Jarvis, age thirteen, but prosecutors have not ruled out charging them as adults at a later date.

What should happen when children commit adult crimes? Will sending fifteen and sixteen year old boys to prison rehabilitate them - or will it make them more inclined to violence? Should children that allegedly meticulously plotted how to set a schoolmate on fire be tried in juvenile court and be out on the streets in a few years – or even months?

Our contributors weigh in on this topic below. After reading their opinions, have your say by leaving a comment.