Florida Children
Living Life in Adult Prisons

Notice that we don't talk about healing them, or rehabilitating them: We speak only of punishment? KayLee

Reform Unlikely, Despite High-Profile Teen Murder Cases By Amanda Riddle Associated Press Writer Published: Mar 2, 2002 WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) - The family of two boys charged with murdering their father wants the public to pay closer attention to how the state punishes young killers. The relatives of 13-year-old Derek King and his 12-year-old brother, Alex, hope awareness will lead to outrage that juveniles convicted of first-degree murder are sentenced to life in prison with no parole. "You can't lump all these little children together and say, 'Because you've done this crime you're a cold-blooded murderer,'" Joyce Tracy, the boys' paternal grandmother, said from her home in Pensacola. "These are little children you're dealing with." Some Democratic lawmakers want to change how juveniles charged as adults are punished, saying the law is too severe and doesn't consider rehabilitation. Juveniles transferred to adult court face the same penalties as adults. The public debate over young killers facing life in prison peaked last year with protests during the West Palm Beach murder trial of a seventh-grader who shot his teacher. But the issue has been overshadowed in the Legislature by disputes over overhauling the state tax system, political redistricting, a tight budget and a slew of security measures following Sept. 11. "There will be absolutely zero reform of juvenile justice during this legislative session," said Sen. Skip Campbell, D-Fort Lauderdale. Campbell sponsored one of two Senate bills that would allow judges to sentence young criminals to a combination of time spent in a juvenile detention center and an adult prison. Campbell said many youngsters can be rehabilitated in Department of Juvenile Justice facilities where they receive counseling, education and vocational training. The hope is that they could one day return to society. That isn't the fate for John Silva and Lionel Tate, serving life sentences with no parole on first-degree murder convictions in the deaths of their younger playmates. Silva, of Interlachen, was 15 when he kidnapped and strangled his 12-year-old neighbor in May 2000 and stuffed Jerry Lee Alleys Jr.'s body in a dry septic tank near his northeastern Florida home. Tate, then 12, body-slammed 6-year-old Tiffany Eunick while imitating professional wrestling moves at his Broward County home in July 1999. Nathaniel Brazill was 13 in May 2000 when he returned to school after being suspended and fatally shot Lake Worth teacher Barry Grunow. He claimed the gun went off accidentally. He was convicted of second-degree murder and sentenced to 28 years in prison. "Justice is not throwing a child in prison without being rehabilitated," the Rev. Thomas Masters, pastor of the New Macedonia Baptist Church in Riviera Beach, said at a protest during Brazill's trial last May. In December, the King brothers were indicted as adults on first-degree murder charges. Like Silva and Tate, they would automatically be sentenced to life terms if convicted at their trial, set for March 11. Tracy's family has been distributing packets in the Pensacola area asking voters to sign and mail a form letter to Gov. Jeb Bush and lawmakers in support of a Campbell's bill. Under the proposal (SB 286), juveniles age 16 and under who are convicted of crimes punishable by death or life in prison could be sent to a juvenile detention center until 21. A hearing would determine if they had been rehabilitated and could be conditionally released or should be sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole. A similar bill filed by Sen. Steven Geller, D-Hallandale Beach, would change sentencing procedures for juveniles charged with crimes not punishable by death or life in prison. The measure (SB 328) would give judges the authority to impose juvenile and adult sanctions. Neither measure has yet to have a hearing, partly because they lack House sponsors. They also are competing with more than two dozen anti-terrorism measures also assigned to the Senate Criminal Justice Committee. "Right now the most important issues in public safety are terrorism prevention and readiness. That is where the focus has been," said committee chairman Victor Crist, R-Tampa. Crist said he supports programs for the majority of youths who can be rehabilitated. But the small numbers who commit premeditated murder are a threat to society and shouldn't be released from prison. "At this point why change something that's been effective and working?" he said. "What about the person who's dead and lying in their grave? How about justice for that person who will never have the opportunity to walk the street again." He said that instead of changing laws, the Legislature should provide more money for prevention, early intervention and treatment programs that are proven to reduce juvenile crime. "The priority should be to identify what's working," he said. In late November, the body of Terry King, 40, was found inside his burning home in the Pensacola suburb of Cantonment. His sons are accused of killing him with an aluminum baseball bat. The boys told investigators they were scared of being spanked for running away from home. Linda Walker, the King boys' maternal grandmother, said Crist and other lawmakers would change their position if they spent time with Florida's jailed murderers and saw how young they were. "A juvenile has to be very troubled to do things. They're not hardened criminals," she said. "They should have that chance to see if they can be rehabilitated ... They're just kids." AP-ES-03-02-02 1102EST Click here for past stories from The Tampa Tribune