Read the following prompt carefully. (MLA Format, No Grammar Errors, No Plagiarism)
On June 25, 2012, the Supreme Court ruled that juveniles who committed murder could not be sentenced to life in prison because it violated the Eighth Amendment’s ban on cruel and unusual punishment. Justice Elena Kagan, writing for the majority, stated that “Mandatory lilfe without parole for a juvenile precludes consideration of his chronological age and its hallmark features – among them immaturity, impetuosity, and failure to appreciate risks and consequences. It prevents taking into account the family and home environment that surrounds him – and from which he cannot usually extricate himself – no matter how brutal or dysfunctional.” However, four justices strongly disagreed, arguing that mandatory sentences reflected the will of American society that heinous crimes committed by juveniles should always be punished with a sentence to life in prison. Justice Alito noted that otherweise, “Even a 17 1/2-year-old who sets off a bomb in a crowded mall or guns down a dozen students and teachers is a ‘child’ and must be given a chance to persuade a judge to permit his release into society…”
**Write an essay analyzing the issues raised by these arguments. Be sure to indicate which side you most strongly agree with. Support your position, providing reasons and examples from your own experience and observations, discussions you have participated in, and texts you have read for this module.
**Your essay should be as clearly focused, well organized, and carefully written as you can make it.
As you begin writing your rough draft, keep in mind the following criteria:
- Typed, Times New Roman, Double Spaced, 12 pt. font
- 1 inch margins all around
- MLA heading (click on Purdue Owl MLA Formatting to see the correct MLA heading format)
- In-text citations (No work cited page is required for this essay since you are using the readings from this module) Visit Purdue OWL MLA In-text Citations page for more information on in-text citations.
- Minimum 2 pages
Be sure to focus on supporting your standpoint using evidence and examples.