Law could send more juvenile offenders to adult prisons

The newly passed Senate Bill 103 was seen as an answer to the problems within the Texas Youth Commission (TYC) concerning the alleged conditions of widespread abuse. At issue most is the provision that will forbid TYC from housing the offenders past their 19th birthday. Some agree this bill will help solve some of the problems plaguing TYC about the handling of the offenders. The provision states that more youths could be certified to stand trial as adults if the crimes they committed were considered serious enough to require extensive rehabilitation. Some feel that this is the wrong way to handle the juvenile offenders and want to push for complete rehabilitation to take place at a TYC facility, and not an adult prison.

I think this article is worth reading because it affects our society and how we choose to deal with criminal acts and those who commit them. I believe that as a society we should make attempts to aid in the rehabilitation of criminals. That said, I also believe in the old adage of "do the crime, do the time." If a 15 or 16 year old commits murder I feel they should be held responsible for their misdeed and not receive a lighter sentence on the grounds of age. Both sides of the argument have points, but it is up to us to ensure that criminals are held liable for their actions.

http://www.star-telegram.com/legislature/story/225113.html