[elwoodblues]

[ QUOTE ]
Because of the failure of americas parents to teach their kids right and wrong and to administer punishment as needed. The "nanny state" it seems has had to step and just level extremly over the top punishments when no justified to try and scare people and parents back into doing their jobs.

The problem still originates with parents not doing their jobs.

[/ QUOTE ]

The questions that this case raises, as is the case most of the time, are complicated and are not easy to answer.

Potential issues:
Are sentencing guidelines/mandatory sentences and the removal (or minimization) of judicial discretion in sentencing a good thing?

Should otherwise criminal actions that occur in schools stay within the school system or should they be referred out to the police? Should all/some; which ones; who should decide?

How should our criminal justice system deal with 13 year old offenders? Should we have a juvenile justice system at all? When should it be used over the "regular" system?

If parents should be responsible to discipline, in cases where the discipline is ineffective, should the parents be responsible for the actions of their 13 year old child? Civilly, criminally or both?

How much discretion should prosecutors have in choosing to charge someone with an offense?