Incarceration of Juveniles Without Parole

1. Social Problem

a. According to the textbook, “A social problem is a social condition or pattern of behavior that has negative consequences for individuals, our social world or our physical world” (Pg. 8.) This quote to me means that a social problem is a condition that at least some people view as being undesirable. Social Problems are determined by people’s values.

I. The social problem that is being represented in this article is the social condition of the incarceration of juveniles and their unjust treatment in the judicial system. The article explains that the Supreme Court system is trying to reshape the way the system works for those who commit crimes under the age of 18. In a lot of states a minor that is convicted of a crime can be punished with a mandatory life sentence without the chance of parole. The new ruling in Miller v. Alabama makes it cruel and unusual punishment to imprison minors without the chance of probation.

b. Objective Element

I. An objective element refers to the existence of a social problem; it is how the social problem affects a bigger picture. Objective elements can be measured with data and are observable. These elements can be confirmed and can prove that a social problem does exist.

II. The objective elements in the article on Juvenile Injustice prove that this subject is a social problem through many figures and collections of data. According to the article, “There are an estimated 2,100 people serving mandatory life sentences received when they were juveniles, in 29 states that impose the penalty.” This is showing that out of all the states in the USA, more than half of them have penalized juveniles with life sentences without parole and that those minors who were penalized, are still serving till this day. The editorial also goes into detail about the states that are now making individualized sentencing decisions, based on a variety of factors. The states that have already responded to the Miller ruling are now...