CHRISTOPHERS BILL - THE JUVENILE JUSTICE REFORM ACT
Target:
John Drummond, Senator - South Carolina Legislature, SC Senate
Sponsored by:
In SC and other US states, children as young as 10 are being arrested, tried, convicted and sentenced as adults under mandatory sentencing mandates. Children are being sentenced to mandatory terms created to net young people involved in gang violence and the drug trades. Children are being sentenced to life without parole. Often under the influence of prescription drugs, otherwise average and above average children commit unthinkable crimes. These children are then thrown into a court and sentencing system designed for hardcore adult criminals. Mandatory sentencing does not take into consideration the past non-violent social history or the effects strong prescription drugs have on young minds. The results are ruined young lives. We need your support. Please sign this petition and lend your name to the pursuit of Juvenile Justice.
In SC and other US states, children as young as 10 are being arrested, tried, convicted and sentenced as adults under mandatory sentencing mandates. Children are being sentenced to mandatory terms created to net young people involved in gang violence and the drug trades. Children are being sentenced to life without parole. Often under the influence of prescription drugs, otherwise average and above average children commit unthinkable crimes. These children are then thrown into a court and sentencing system designed for hardcore adult criminals. Mandatory sentencing does not take into consideration the past non-violent social history or the effects strong prescription drugs have on young minds. The results are ruined young lives. We need your support. Please sign this petition and lend your name to the pursuit of Juvenile Justice.
TO: THE MEMBERS OF THE SOUTH CAROLINA LEGISLATURE
PETITION TO THE SOUTH CAROLINA LEGISLATURE INVOLVING CHILD SENTENCING REFORM IN THE SOUTH CAROLINA JUDICIAL SYSTEM
We the undersigned, do hereby petition the South Carolina Legislature to immediately and without delay open a joint discussion on the juvenile justice system.
We the people support judicial discretion for the punishment to fit the crime in every case. Judges should determine appropriate sentences based on the facts concerning juvenile cases that come before their court.
Judicial discretion is "American Justice". Congress built departure authority into the sentencing system when it passed the Sentencing Reform Act in the 1980's. Departure power is necessary to guarantee a fair and just criminal justice system.
Mandatory minimums established for adult sentencing deprive judges of the right to dispense juvenile justice on an individual basis. Prosecutors and mandatory minimums currently dictate sentencing which is often inappropriate for crimes committed by children.
South Carolina judges should have their authority restored enabling them to dispense fair and just sentences to the children of South Carolina in the juvenile justice system.
WE THE UNDERSIGNED, DO HEREBY PETITION THE SOUTH CAROLINA LEGISLATURE TO SUPPORT AND PASS INTO LAW;
CHRISTOPHER'S BILL (THE JUVENILE JUSTICE REFORM ACT)
1. NO CHILD UNDER THE AGE OF 14 MAY BE SUBJECTED TO MANDATORY SENTENCING.
2. CHILDREN UNDER THE AGE OF 14 WHEN CHARGED WITH A CRIME SHALL BE SUBJECT TO THE POSSIBILITY OF PAROLE OR RELEASE AT THE AGE OF 21.
3. CHILDREN WITHOUT A HISTORY OF PRIOR CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR SHALL NOT THE TRIED IN AN ADULT COURT.
4. REHABILITATION WITHIN THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM MUST INCLUDE COUNSELING AND EDUCATION.
5. CHILDREN UNDER THE AGE OF 14 MUST HAVE AN ATTORNEY OR GUARDIAN PRESENT BEFORE THEIR MIRANDA RIGHTS CAN BE READ.
6. CHILDREN UNDER THE AGE OF 14 MUST NOT BE QUESTIONED BY LAW ENFORCEMENT WITHOUT AN ATTORNEY OR GUARDIAN PRESENT.
7. ANY CHILD UNDER THE AGE OF 14 WHO COMMITS A CRIME WHILE UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF A PRESCRIBED MIND-ALTERING DRUG MUST BE TRIED AS A JUVENILE IN THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM.
8. ANY MENTALLY ILL OR MENTALLY DISADVANTAGED CHILD UNDER THE AGE OF 14 WHO COMMITS A CRIME MUST BE TRIED AS A JUVENILE IN THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM.
9. THIS BILL IS RETROACTIVE FOR 10 YEARS FOR CASES INVOLVING CHILDREN THAT WERE UNDER THE AGE OF 14 AT THE TIME OF THEIR ARREST AND LATER TRIED AND SENTENCED AS ADULTS.
Authors Janet Sisk, Michael and Sheila Maloney
Organization Justice for Juveniles
Copyright 2005 Justice for Juveniles
We signed the "CHRISTOPHERS BILL - THE JUVENILE JUSTICE REFORM ACT" petition!
# 5,168:
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12:44 am PDT, Jul 3,
Valerie Goodwin, Washington
Dear Senator Drummond ~ I pray you will find it in your heart to do whatever you need to to help Christopher Pittman, and other precious chidren like him. Imagine if he were a child of yours, and the drug companies, doctors, and whomever else is involved in this atrocity, were to blame for the plight of this precious young man, and others like him. What would you do? Please, just imagine yourself in the situation he and his family are in...absolutely devastating. I have 3 sons myself, and cannot imagine something this horrific happening to them ~ all because of the drug companies, etc. Again, PLEASE DO SOMETHING TO HELP HIM. May God bless you and YOUR family, and may you be forever grateful that this has not happened to you, and may you show this gratefulness by doing something about it. |
# 5,167:
1:23 pm PDT, Jun 29,
Kole Caston, Louisiana
# 5,166:
10:41 am PDT, Jun 26,
Jeffery Kennedy, Tennessee
Children are just that, children. You become an adult at 18 years of age. That's when you are allowed to be on your own. That's when you are given legal rights to smoke, be in the military and vote to name a few. Children become adults at this age for a reason. Research has been done to show that 18 is an age when a person is mature enough to be considered an adult. Children's brains are always developing and they just can't comprehend what adults can. So to say that a child that makes a mistake and commits a crime has the capacity to understand what they did as an adult would is just not true. Yes children should have punishment for doing something that is against the law, but I believe we become an adult at 18 so up until you are 18 you should be tried as a child because that's what you are. I think it is possible for children to change while in jail and become contributing citizens in society. However "kids" that are tried as "adults" don't get that chance.
Children are just that, children. You become an adult at 18 years of age. That's when you are allowed to be on your own. That's when you are given legal rights to smoke, be in the military and vote to name a few. Children become adults at this age for a reason. Research has been done to show that 18 is an age when a person is mature enough to be considered an adult. Children's brains are always developing and they just can't comprehend what adults can. So to say that a child that makes a mistake and commits a crime has the capacity to understand what they did as an adult would is just not true. Yes children should have punishment for doing something that is against the law, but I believe we become an adult at 18 so up until you are 18 you should be tried as a child because that's what you are. I think it is possible for children to change while in jail and become contributing citizens in society. However "kids" that are tried as "adults" don't get that chance.
# 5,165:
9:09 am PDT, Jun 24,
Maria Cervetti Slifer, Florida
# 5,164:
11:10 am PDT, Jun 23,
Amy Mills, North Carolina
# 5,163:
4:44 pm PDT, Jun 22,
Brianne Wettrick, Ohio
# 5,162:
3:30 pm PDT, Jun 22,
Debbie Cassidy, New Hampshire
I have seen the documentary on Chris and his circumstances I do not believe this little boy at the time of this crime is his fault I believe a great injustice has been done to Chris. I have taken anti depressants that have not agreed with me, He was a boy who trusted adults to take this pill .He took beacuse I am sure his parents thought it would help, It did not! Please fix this , dont through away a boys life .
I have seen the documentary on Chris and his circumstances I do not believe this little boy at the time of this crime is his fault I believe a great injustice has been done to Chris. I have taken anti depressants that have not agreed with me, He was a boy who trusted adults to take this pill .He took beacuse I am sure his parents thought it would help, It did not! Please fix this , dont through away a boys life .
# 5,161:
10:27 am PDT, Jun 22,
Chris Roca, Pennsylvania
Free him.
Free him.
# 5,160:
10:44 am PDT, Jun 18,
Kristy Penland, North Carolina
This is a true tragedy. I myself take Zoloft, but only 50ml and would not recommend a child of his age take it. Its not recommended for children anyway. My heart goes out to Chris and his family. I hope he is able to get out soon! I totally support him. Set him free!
This is a true tragedy. I myself take Zoloft, but only 50ml and would not recommend a child of his age take it. Its not recommended for children anyway. My heart goes out to Chris and his family. I hope he is able to get out soon! I totally support him. Set him free!
# 5,159:
9:18 am PDT, Jun 18,
Colby Mills, North Carolina
Free him!
Free him!
# 5,158:
5:03 pm PDT, Jun 17,
Carole Penland, North Carolina
What happened to Christopher is a true travisty of justice especially for the united states where our children are supposed to be children . I f a child cant smoke , drink, be drafted, or drop out of school until 18 then how in gods name can they be tried as an adult when their minds are a childs mind, perhaps we as adults need to explore this .
What happened to Christopher is a true travisty of justice especially for the united states where our children are supposed to be children . I f a child cant smoke , drink, be drafted, or drop out of school until 18 then how in gods name can they be tried as an adult when their minds are a childs mind, perhaps we as adults need to explore this .
# 5,157:
10:30 am PDT, Jun 17,
Carl Auerbach, New York
# 5,156:
8:29 pm PDT, Jun 15,
Taylor Lee, Wisconsin
like it says a child is never an adult. a lot of the time children do things their not sure is wrong. thats the difference betweem children and adults, adults know its wrong. children should not be trialed as adults because they dont have the same knowledge.
like it says a child is never an adult. a lot of the time children do things their not sure is wrong. thats the difference betweem children and adults, adults know its wrong. children should not be trialed as adults because they dont have the same knowledge.
# 5,155:
8:44 am PDT, Jun 15,
Robin Scofield, Texas
I took a minuscule dose of Zoloft in my mid-forties for hot flashes. About a month later I began to experience peculiar spells of out-of-body maniacal rage. It was as if I were watching from a distance. I lost my job and my ability to work in my chosen field. I am only lucky that during my rages there was no weapon at hand. If Zoloft can do this to an able, intelligent, ethical adult, then what did it do to a 12 year old boy?
I took a minuscule dose of Zoloft in my mid-forties for hot flashes. About a month later I began to experience peculiar spells of out-of-body maniacal rage. It was as if I were watching from a distance. I lost my job and my ability to work in my chosen field. I am only lucky that during my rages there was no weapon at hand. If Zoloft can do this to an able, intelligent, ethical adult, then what did it do to a 12 year old boy?
# 5,154:
3:13 am PDT, Jun 15,
Susan Marklein, California
the child has paid his debt!!
the child has paid his debt!!
# 5,153:
2:12 am PDT, Jun 15,
Name not displayed, Washington
# 5,152:
1:26 am PDT, Jun 15,
Name not displayed, Canada
As a former teacher and a parent, I am appalled at the laws sending children to jail for longer periods than many adult offenders and reoffenders receive. It this were happening in a third world country, the United States, Canada and other "first" world nations would raise an outcry against such injustice.
As a former teacher and a parent, I am appalled at the laws sending children to jail for longer periods than many adult offenders and reoffenders receive. It this were happening in a third world country, the United States, Canada and other "first" world nations would raise an outcry against such injustice.
# 5,150:
12:16 am PDT, Jun 15,
Sherri Craig, Ohio
# 5,151:
12:10 am PDT, Jun 15,
Name not displayed, Canada
Chris has served his time! Prison will not help him or anyone else.
Chris has served his time! Prison will not help him or anyone else.
# 5,149:
12:06 am PDT, Jun 15,
Geoffrey Gibson, Texas
# 5,148:
11:48 pm PDT, Jun 14,
Kendrick Miller, Kentucky
while taking this medicine my stepson told his mother that he wanted to take a knife & kill himself. we were watching a show on chris and it made me look on the net about this drug and i came across this site. i personally think the drug company arranged the conviction to protect them from lawsuits.
while taking this medicine my stepson told his mother that he wanted to take a knife & kill himself. we were watching a show on chris and it made me look on the net about this drug and i came across this site. i personally think the drug company arranged the conviction to protect them from lawsuits.
# 5,147:
5:53 pm PDT, Jun 14,
Shawna McCartney, Bahamas
# 5,146:
5:32 pm PDT, Jun 14,
Name not displayed, Idaho
I use to take Zoloft and it intesified any bad thoughts I would have, it scared me, so I took myself off of it. I feel Chris deserves to be punished but not like he is getting. He needs help, not locked up with adults.. I hope he gets the help that he needs.
I use to take Zoloft and it intesified any bad thoughts I would have, it scared me, so I took myself off of it. I feel Chris deserves to be punished but not like he is getting. He needs help, not locked up with adults.. I hope he gets the help that he needs.
# 5,145:
5:27 pm PDT, Jun 14,
Kathryn Ripp, Wisconsin
When someone under 18 years of age commits murder it is a sign that the child was failed over and over again by those who raised him/her. They need help and a way to develop into a responsible, caring adult. Incarceration in an adult facility will do just the opposite. No matter what the crime, a child should be tried and sentenced as a child!
When someone under 18 years of age commits murder it is a sign that the child was failed over and over again by those who raised him/her. They need help and a way to develop into a responsible, caring adult. Incarceration in an adult facility will do just the opposite. No matter what the crime, a child should be tried and sentenced as a child!
# 5,144:
5:26 pm PDT, Jun 14,
Name not displayed, Mississippi
Not only do I agree with not trying a child as an adult, I have taken Zoloft for 9 yrs now, currently I am on a sister drug, Lexapro, and I know that the drug changes the way you normally think and react to things. When I first started taking it, I did things that I would've never "normally" done and although it has controlled my panic attacks and anxiety I still have episodes of impulsive and compulsive behaviors. I bet I'm not the only adult that has been taking Zoloft for a number of years with this kind of story.
Not only do I agree with not trying a child as an adult, I have taken Zoloft for 9 yrs now, currently I am on a sister drug, Lexapro, and I know that the drug changes the way you normally think and react to things. When I first started taking it, I did things that I would've never "normally" done and although it has controlled my panic attacks and anxiety I still have episodes of impulsive and compulsive behaviors. I bet I'm not the only adult that has been taking Zoloft for a number of years with this kind of story.
# 5,143:
5:22 pm PDT, Jun 14,
Jason Teixeira, Canada
I think that Christopher should have a second chance in life, when i saw the t.v. show 48 and saw him, i knew that he was Innocent, at the end of the show when it said GUILTY i thought the jury was crazy and killed another life. I am only 17 and i cant imagine how hard this could be on him, i think the jury should imagine if that their son or daughter did what cris did but the real question is was it cris or the Zoloft? and i wonder if the jury would of seen cris guilty or not! i was upset and somthing has to been done he was a child being sentenced as adult its disgusting!
I think that Christopher should have a second chance in life, when i saw the t.v. show 48 and saw him, i knew that he was Innocent, at the end of the show when it said GUILTY i thought the jury was crazy and killed another life. I am only 17 and i cant imagine how hard this could be on him, i think the jury should imagine if that their son or daughter did what cris did but the real question is was it cris or the Zoloft? and i wonder if the jury would of seen cris guilty or not! i was upset and somthing has to been done he was a child being sentenced as adult its disgusting!
# 5,142:
5:14 pm PDT, Jun 14,
Name not displayed, Massachusetts
# 5,141:
5:12 pm PDT, Jun 14,
Patricia Medina, California
I just saw the story on 48 Hrs. Hard Evidence. I cannot believe that the judge and jury could not believe that Zoloft could cause this child to commit a violent crime. After all of the information we have today on anti-depressants, why hasn't this case been looked at again?
I just saw the story on 48 Hrs. Hard Evidence. I cannot believe that the judge and jury could not believe that Zoloft could cause this child to commit a violent crime. After all of the information we have today on anti-depressants, why hasn't this case been looked at again?
# 5,140:
5:11 pm PDT, Jun 14,
Michaelene Garcia, Colorado
I have very mixed feelings about this whole case. But I think if anything, the jury should have only found him guilty of the lesser charge of manslaughter. My heart goes out to Chris. I cannot imagine what he is going through and will continue to go through, for so many years. By the time he will be released, he will institutionalized.
I have very mixed feelings about this whole case. But I think if anything, the jury should have only found him guilty of the lesser charge of manslaughter. My heart goes out to Chris. I cannot imagine what he is going through and will continue to go through, for so many years. By the time he will be released, he will institutionalized.
# 5,139:
4:32 pm PDT, Jun 14,
Melissa Davis, Idaho
# 5,138:
6:44 am PDT, Jun 13,
Lorraine Pittman, California
My husbands name is Christopher William Pittman he lives under his mother's skirt he is a drug addict and a drunk he lies steals and beats on me and other women while his enabling freck mother lies for him pays for everything and never once in her sociopathic brain tells him he is wrong. she lies over and over for him,,.. He belongs in prison for life along with his lover mother not this boy. WAKE UP AMERICA wake up rose WAKE UP YOU over educated ass CHRIS
My husbands name is Christopher William Pittman he lives under his mother's skirt he is a drug addict and a drunk he lies steals and beats on me and other women while his enabling freck mother lies for him pays for everything and never once in her sociopathic brain tells him he is wrong. she lies over and over for him,,.. He belongs in prison for life along with his lover mother not this boy. WAKE UP AMERICA wake up rose WAKE UP YOU over educated ass CHRIS
# 5,137:
4:40 pm PDT, Jun 7,
Donna Curnutt, Washington
# 5,136:
11:05 am PDT, Jun 5,
Traci Emory, Virginia
# 5,135:
10:02 am PDT, Jun 2,
Chane' Beard, California
I have personal experience with a child being tried and as of june 10th sentenced as an adult. I believe that it is unfair in many situations these children aren't even aware of how harsh the justice system can be. If an adult brain doesn't fully develop until the age of 28 how if the laws in our country just?
I have personal experience with a child being tried and as of june 10th sentenced as an adult. I believe that it is unfair in many situations these children aren't even aware of how harsh the justice system can be. If an adult brain doesn't fully develop until the age of 28 how if the laws in our country just?
# 5,134:
2:42 pm PDT, Jun 1,
Sarah Ferrell, South Carolina
# 5,133:
10:10 am PDT, May 30,
Katja Siirasto, Finland
# 5,132:
8:54 pm PDT, May 29,
Diane Sackett, South Carolina
Free Christopher Pittman. This boy has overpaid for being a victim himself of a dangerous drug, Zoloft. Children trust adults to make wise decisions for them and many times they are failed. Chris was harmed by Zoloft and treated unfairly by the criminal justice system. Someone other than Chris needs to be accountable in this case.
Free Christopher Pittman. This boy has overpaid for being a victim himself of a dangerous drug, Zoloft. Children trust adults to make wise decisions for them and many times they are failed. Chris was harmed by Zoloft and treated unfairly by the criminal justice system. Someone other than Chris needs to be accountable in this case.
# 5,131:
8:05 pm PDT, May 24,
Patricia Shurden, Georgia
# 5,130:
4:55 pm PDT, May 24,
Stefanie Collins, Texas
# 5,129:
1:50 pm PDT, May 22,
Eileen Green, New York
# 5,128:
2:40 am PDT, May 21,
Werner Roenn, Germany
# 5,127:
8:40 am PDT, May 20,
Cynthia Torrey, Virginia
# 5,126:
11:46 am PDT, May 19,
Elaine Tyler, United Kingdom
# 5,125:
1:37 am PDT, May 19,
Gilles Denizot, Germany
# 5,124:
3:16 pm PDT, May 18,
Christiane Collienne, Belgium
# 5,123:
12:57 pm PDT, May 18,
Wendy M. McCall, South Carolina
# 5,122:
6:44 pm PDT, May 17,
Paula Keeth, Texas
# 5,121:
6:12 pm PDT, May 17,
Elvin Golden, Sr., Wisconsin
# 5,120:
5:19 pm PDT, May 17,
Lindsay Hawley, Ohio
# 5,119:
4:42 pm PDT, May 17,
M Azzopardi, Gibraltar
# 5,118:
10:24 am PDT, May 17,
Sinje Moll - lebens, Germany
# 5,117:
10:10 am PDT, May 17,
Andrea Ashford, United Kingdom
# 5,116:
5:44 am PDT, May 16,
Machelle Chandler, Montana
# 5,115:
4:58 pm PDT, May 15,
Kimberli Crespi, North Carolina
# 5,114:
11:22 am PDT, May 13,
Tabitha Montes, Nevada
# 5,113:
11:19 am PDT, May 12,
Erika L., Kansas
# 5,112:
10:30 am PDT, May 12,
Monique Bishop, Colorado
# 5,111:
11:46 pm PDT, May 11,
Jeff Rinehart, California
# 5,110:
10:44 am PDT, May 11,
Sherl Washburn, Louisiana
# 5,109:
5:53 am PDT, May 11,
Robert Workman, Maine
# 5,108:
3:33 pm PDT, May 10,
Jennifer Behrens, New Jersey
# 5,107:
3:00 pm PDT, May 10,
Barbara Gough, Michigan
# 5,106:
4:02 am PDT, May 10,
Dusty Stumpf, Ohio
# 5,105:
3:01 am PDT, May 10,
Name not displayed, Texas
# 5,104:
1:05 am PDT, May 10,
Heather Gentry, Virginia
# 5,103:
1:02 am PDT, May 10,
Name not displayed, California
# 5,102:
12:03 am PDT, May 10,
Patricia Jones, California
# 5,101:
10:21 pm PDT, May 9,
Karen G. Osman, New York
# 5,099:
10:20 pm PDT, May 9,
Name not displayed, California
