In this article the author Ashley Broughton discussed how during the 1990's there was a nation wide increase of gang activity with the youth of America. Many states passed laws to get more tough with the youth by sending them to adult court. Utah passed its serious youth offender act in 1995. From 1985 to 1998 the juveniles in adult prison had doubled because of this act. Broughton then goes onto discuss how two 15 year old girl Melinda Chasteen and Jessica Grundie were accused of trying to kill a female gourd at the juvenile detention facility in Utah. The girls are also charged for planning on killing several other guards and stealing items to escape and help other juveniles escape. Chasteen was sentenced to prison while at the time the article was written, 2003, Grundie had not been sentenced yet. This started a huge debate about whether these girls should still be in a juvenile detention facility or prison. Many believe that it is wrong to sentence minors like adults but there are also those whom believe that sentencing juveniles like adults or serious crimes are justified.
Article: Sentencing of Teen Girl Debate of Youths in Prison
Author: Ashley Broughton
Source: Salt Lake Tribune Oct 14, 2003
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