In one case, a youth, armed with a personal firearm, shot and and killed an armed man, and shot and seriously injured another. As a result of his actions, this young man was sent out of state to a residential treatment facility.
Another case involved an older teen and his much younger teen brother, who confronted a rival gang member, and shot and killed him. The boy who lost his life was thirteen. The younger brother of the shooter was thirteen. The shooter served seven years in California Youth Authority (now know as the Division of Juvenile Justice), The younger brother was sent out of county to a group home.
In yet another tragedy, a group of teens were causing havoc on Halloween night and attempted to rob another group of youth. One of the teens had a gun and ended up shooting the gun that had been used in an attempt to rob the group. He ended up shooting, a young teen girl. His case was sent to Adult Court and he is serving fifty to life in the Adult Pen. One of his associates spent time at CYA.. Others were sent to residential group homes for their involvement in the offense.
After analyzing the outcomes and the consequences these youth face, I began to wonder about the logic or lack thereof in these decisions and the extremes between them, although all involved loss of life and were not all that extremely different regarding circumstances. In one case, the angle of self defense was used which resulted in a lesser charge although the young man through a series of decisions clearly decided to arm himself and was prepared to confront the man he ended up injuring but not killing. It was as if sometimes the Court would take all factors into consideration and in others punish to the extent of the law. When and how and why is discretion being used and distributed in the sentencing of sanctions? Is it based on public demand? Race and/or geographical region of the victim? Gender and age? The perceived gang involvement of the offenders and/or the victims? The value of co-participant testimony to the District Attorney? Does this diminish the value of life? Does one victim's life have more value than another in the distribution of justice and what does the doling out of justice look like?