That's the verdict of the Springfield News-Leader Editorial Board, which supported Judge William Carl Crawford's decision to place White, 13 at the time, in adult court to face charges for the Memorial Middle School shooting:
We understand those who have sympathy for a 14-year-old who by the grace of God and a jammed weapon did no more damage than scaring the hell out of a couple of school administrators and firing a bullet into the ceiling. But those who call for White to be prosecuted purely as a juvenile must have been sleeping through the past decade to the point where they have no comprehension how serious school shootings are. Further, they don't understand Missouri's dual jurisdiction sentencing guidelines, which allow for the possibility that a juvenile facing serious time for serious crimes might become rehabilitated before he turns 18.
If he's found guilty and sentenced, White will spend the first couple of years of his sentence in the control of juvenile authorities who will offer the sorts of educational and psychological programs appropriate for a young person. As it relates to White, whether other people are to blame for his violent tendency is no longer the point. What matters now is keeping the community at large safe.
All I am seeing is a guy saying, "He will get out at 18 (even with a juvenile sentence he will not get out before then) no matter what, lets send him with the worst criminal offenders so he can learn to be more like them."
ReplyDeleteLet's be real. He will learn the same things in juvie and from his own dad.
ReplyDeleteSo lets not put him with either. Lets put him in Boys and Girls Town where the people that are pushing for juvenile status want him to be.
ReplyDeleteAnd why do they want him in Boys Town: because he can get out when he turns 18. Ridiculous. He needs punishment that fit his actions and sending him to little juvie town isn't going to do it! The next kid that thinks of this needs to know that it is serious business and it will NOT be tolerated!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteIDIOT! HAVE YOU NOT BEEN PAYING ATTENTION! HE WILL MOST LIKELY GET OUT AT 18 NO MATTER WHAT! WHATS THE POINT IN MAKING HIM A BETTER CRIMINAL BEFORE THEN! Also how many 13 year olds do you know that watch the news on a regular basis. For that matter how many times have you heard about Thomas White on national news, just a hint, it hasn't been many. Think before you speak next time.
ReplyDeleteHere's a win-win for everyone. Let's give him to endersdragon for life and that person can be responsive for White. Then if/when he actually kills someone, endersdragon would be the idiot.
ReplyDeleteActually, the Division of Youth Services program in question (with dual sentencing) has been pretty damn successful ... I think something like 95 percent of the juveniles assigned to it are re-habbed, meaning they never go to adult prison. And these are kids with serious crimes (murder, school shooters).
ReplyDeleteSounds good to me, I don't think he would ever do anything like that again. Heck he has practically told me so. If I was old enough and able to adopt him (I am just 21 and still live in a college dorm and he is not up for adoption) I would adopt him like that. Sorry guy, I am not afraid of that.
ReplyDeleteThe News-Leader's column is actually incorrect. It suggests that if Thomas is tried and convicted as an adult he WILL be sentence under dual jurisdiction. The fact is, his sentencing is entirely up to the judge, and he could just as likely be sentenced and IMMEDIATELY remanded to an adult prison - and for the rest of his life, for that matter. Since it's the same Jasper County "good-ole-boys" judges that certified him to stand trial as an adult, and another who is now leaning toward refusing the defense's request for him to be remanded to the juvenile system, there's been nothing in these judge's immediate history of rulings that suggests they WILL give him dual jurisdiction. In fact, quite the opposite...I'd say these judges are out to hang the young man by the tallest tree. Where is our sense of compassion? And who the hell are all you people who have already convicted Thomas in your own minds. Who made you judge and jury?
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