Rachel M.

2015

Juvenile Delinquency

Source: Sifakis, Carl. “Juvenile Delinquency.” Encyclopedia of American Crime, Second Edition. Facts On File, 2000. American History Online. Web. 13 Oct. 2015. <http://online.infobase.com/HRC/LearningCenter/Details/2?articleId=200370>. URL:http://online.infobase.com/HRC/LearningCenter/Details/2?articleId=200370

Quote:

In one sense, juvenile delinquency was not a problem in early colonial times. Until the Revolution settlers in this land lived under English common law, which held that juvenile offenders from the age of seven were accountable for their acts and could face the same penalties imposed on adults for various offenses. While a judge had discretion to determine the culpability of children between seven and 14 years of age, there were numerous executions of children as young as one eight-year-old hanged for burning a barn with “malice, revenge, craft and cunning.” One well-known case was that of 12-year-old Hannah Ocuish, hanged for the murder of a six-year-old child. A contemporary account, which in tone approved of the execution, did comment that “she said very little and appeared greatly afraid, and seemed to want somebody to help her.” Protests that she was too young to die drew very little public support.

Paraphrase:

-seven year olds faced the same penalties as adults

-adults didn’t understand child development kids could be hung

-the community wouldn’t fight for charges to be dropped

-some people protested but it didn’t work -juvenile delinquency wasn’t always a problem

-Hannah Ocuish was hung at twelve

-Hannah was a murderer

My Ideas:

This shows that the people in Colonial America didn’t understand that children’s minds aren’t fully developed. This is why I think they shouldn’t have to face adult charges. There was no distinction between boy and man, or girl and woman. They were all seen as little adults. The Englishmen thought people would learn right and wrong from punishment. But the punishment they chose was often harsh and brutal. Hangings happened often, and children could be hung as young as eight. If the solution to children misbehaving is to kill them, I don’t think that’s a good practice. Killing someone is a big deal. You are taking the life away of someone who could have grown up to be a wonderful, smart, and kind human being. What’s really upsetting is that your family wouldn’t fight for you. Neighbors and relatives that you’ve known you all your life are too afraid to fight for you. Hannah Ocuish was twelve when she was hung. She was hung because she murdered a six year old. She had so much ahead of her, so many more years to live. What made her want to kill that child? Was her family life unstable? I wonder why so many children were hung. What did they do, and why? They must have been angry to do things like burning down a barn.