You are a newly minted prosecutor in Anytown, USA, and have been assigned the following two cases for trial:
Case A: 14-year-old male C.J. raped his 16-year-old next-door neighbor M.K. During the rape, C.J. bruised one of M.K.’s arms. The police arrest C.J. the next morning at his residence where he lives with his mother and two younger brothers. His mother is devastated by his arrest. C.J. has a history of minor thefts.
Case B: 16-year-old female K.O. raped 13-year-old R.L. and demanded that R.L. keep quiet about the rape. The police arrest K.O. R.L. does not want K.O. prosecuted for the rape.
On the date of sentencing, the court sentences C.J. to 10 years’ confinement with two years of probation, but sentences K.O. to two years’ confinement with five years of probation.
- Should the female juvenile rapist have been treated differently than the male juvenile rapist?
- If you were the judge, how would you justify your sentencing decisions?In response to your peers, assume the role of either the prosecutor or defense attorney and refute one of your peers’ arguments regarding sentencing.
Answer preview
intentional and violent; the limb does not get injured without a challenge, clearly showing action was violent. Although her mother was devastated by his arrest, C.J is criminal as he also had a history of minor thefts. R.L does not want K.O prosecuted for the rape, and this situation expressed feelings of hopelessness and desperateness (Patterson, 2011). This situation resulted in K.O treated differently. Even though K.O had demanded that R.L keeps quiet about the abuse, R. L felt pity for her showing some mercy resulting to K.O not charged for the rape.
If I were the judge, I would approve the sentencing as lawful. C.J committed the crime, raping and injuring victim’s arm. Likewise, K.O Committed a crime and ordered R.L to keep quiet, these acts are illegal and intend to do an evil act (Patterson, 2011). As a prosecutor, the evidence is satisfactory to accuse both C.J. and K.O. Although R.L. did not want K.O prosecuted, it will not clear K.O of guilt. Similarly, as C.J.’s mother was devastated, this will not remove C.J from sin. Sentencing both is lawful as it is based on enough evidence attached to them.
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