Because juveniles do not have fully developed brains, their reasoning is undeveloped and they are incapable of fully grasping the seriousness of their actions. Their cause-and-effect sequencing is not yet mature. This doesn't mean they shouldn't be held accountable for their decisions, but to apply adult standards of law to juvenile offenders is irrational.
For instance, if a 15 year old participates in an armed robbery as a look-out, and during the course of the robbery his adult co-defendant shoots and kills someone, under current Michigan law, that juvenile would be charged with first-degree murder. This charge carries a mandatory life without parole sentence.
To expect a juvenile to have the maturity to think through the possible consequences of his actions is irrational. Judges need the flexibility to differentiate between a juvenile offender who gets caught up in behavior coerced by other adult offenders, and those who commit heinous, cold-blooded murder themselves, and to fashion sentences accordingly. This recent Supreme Court ruling makes that possible.
I believe that people need to be held accountable for their criminal behavior, but there needs to be reason employed in making sentencing laws. I believe there should be a balanced, rehabilitative approach rather than purely for retribution.
