In chapter 8 of “Just Mercy” the topic is on juveniles being prosecuted and tried as adults for murder crimes. Bryan Stevenson is telling us four different juvenile’s stories; from their up-bringing to their situations that caused them to be prosecuted. All four stories had something in common, either they came from broken homes, poverty, mental issues or were traumatized somewhere down the line. Each juvenile (which by the way are all African American), committed a crime and got the maximum punishment even though they were all under the age limit. Although these crimes were not intentional they were still put on trial and was sentenced the time. Fourteen year old Trina (later turned 16), thirteen year old Ian and thirteen year old Antonio were sentenced to life in prison with no parole. The title of this chapter is called “All God’s Children”, to me this means regardless of their poor choices they are all still God’s children who deserve a second chance at life. Also considering the fact that they are still learning and growing. The last kid, fourteen year old Gregory Stinney was executed for a crime he didn’t even commit. Greg thought he was helping by telling a man at the search party where he had last saw the girls before they disappeared. Being that he’s an African American boy, they assumed that he had something to do with it and sent him to death row.
A main topic/issue in this chapter is how children are being tried as adults and receiving life as a punishment. Although the crimes they have committed are unforgivable to the victim’s family and friends, sentencing kids to life in prison is a little harsh considering the fact that they are still very young and learning. Another important topic/issue in this chapter is how troubled households can lead children to prison. Each child’s tragic ending stemmed from problems at home, whether it was mental abuse or physical abuse. If most kids came from positive homes with both parents who support them and paid more attention to them there would be less kids committing senseless crimes. Also another topic is male guards raping/sexually assaulting female inmates in the prisons, in the article it stated “Not long after Trina arrived at Muncy, a male correctional officer pulled her into a secluded area and raped her” (Bryan Stevenson pg150). The officer walked away freely with his punishment only being the loss of his job, not even a criminal prosecution.
After spending eighteen years in jail Ian finally worked up the courage to call Mrs. Baigre and speak about the incident. In the book it stated “On Christmas Eve in 1992, he used his call to reach out to Debbie Baigre, the woman he shot. When she answered the phone, Ian spilled out an emotional apology, expressing his deep regret and remorse” (Bryan Stevenson pg153). In that moment I knew that Ian actually had a heart and a conscious, he wasn’t this cold hearted criminal that everyone saw him to be when he was thirteen. Being that Ian committed such a crime the justice system believed that he would remain the exact same way he was when he was thirteen and they decided to lock him away forever. I believe in second chances especially when it comes to someone who owns up to their mistakes and actually has learned from them. I am in no way saying that he doesn’t deserve any kind of punishment at all, I’m just saying there should have been steps before he reached life in prison especially if the victim did not die. Even Mrs. Debbie Baigre herself believed that his punishment was too harsh In the chapter it stated, “After communicating with Ian for several years, Baigre wrote the court and told the judge who sentenced Ian of her conviction that his sentence was too harsh and that his conditions of confinement were inhumane” (Mrs. Baigre pg153). That was a huge favor that Mrs. Baigre had done for Ian but she truly believed that he had learned his lesson. Most people probably wouldn’t have given Ian the time of the day considering what he had done. She even took time out of her day to write a letter to request his release which takes a strong kind hearted person to do so. Also the fact that Ms. Debbie saw the good in him despite all the damage that he has caused in her life was amazing to me.
