Ethics Focus: "Who's There?"
You are a prosecutor in a state that allows juveniles to be tried as adults for crimes such as murder and to be sentenced to an adult prison. A 15-year-old talked two other boys, ages 15 and 14, respectively, into burglarizing the home of a 72-year-old woman who lived alone. The woman woke up during the burglary and shouted "Who's there?" Then she got out of bed and saw the three youths and called out the name of the youth who planned the burglary. She knew him because he had been her paperboy for more than a year and regularly collected payment from her. Panicking, he picked up a fireplace tool and hit her on the head several times. She died of her injuries.
-Would you prosecute all three youths in juvenile court? In adult court? Would you seek life without parole (the most severe possible penalty for a juvenile) for any of the youths?

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The Answer of Ethics Focus: "Who's There?"
You are a prosecutor in a state that allows juveniles to be tried as adults for crimes such as murder and to be sentenced to an adult prison. A 15-year-old talked two other boys, ages 15 and 14, respectively, into burglarizing the home of a 72-year-old woman who lived alone. The woman woke up during the burglary and shouted "Who's there?" Then she got out of bed and saw the three youths and called out the name of the youth who planned the burglary. She knew him because he had been her paperboy for more than a year and regularly collected payment from her. Panicking, he picked up a fireplace tool and hit her on the head several times. She died of her injuries.
-Would you prosecute all three youths in juvenile court? In adult court? Would you seek life without parole (the most severe possible penalty for a juvenile) for any of the youths?