US's hard line against youth crime

Nathaniel Brazill is fingerprinted after being sentenced

By BBC Washington Correspondent Nick Bryant

Prosecutors across America believe they are dealing with a new breed of juvenile offender, the authors of more serious crimes, with more violent consequences.

In the Midwest state of Michigan, for instance, police estimate that a fifth of major crimes are carried out by children, many carrying firearms.

The case of Florida schoolboy Nathaniel Brazill - jailed on Friday for killing his teacher - in many ways typifies the problem of where an everyday classroom dispute was settled with a handgun. Afterwards, he boasted about becoming a more accomplished criminal.

Juvenile crimes such as the massacre at Columbine High School have shocked the nation

Traditionally in America, lawbreakers under the age of 18 have faced trial in juvenile courts, where their names remained secret and punishments were tailored to encourage rehabilitation.

But over the past 10 years, nearly every state has passed new laws making it easier for minors to be tried as adults.

Deterrent

Proponents argue that tougher statutes protect the public from violent offenders and deter other young people from following in their path.

Some prosecutors and police believe that many juveniles already are career criminals, and that no amount of expensive rehabilitation can reform them.

Florida has led the way, prosecuting over six and a half thousand children in adult courts in 1998 alone.

Nationwide, the figure was over 200,000, according to figures from Amnesty International. Now, 38 states house child prisoners alongside adult ones.

Cycle of crime

Statistics reveal that young black Americans are more likely to face trial than whites and other ethnic groups.

African American youths account for only 15% of the population 10-17 years old, yet they comprise

• 30% of youths arrested
• 40% of youths held in custody
• 50% of all cases transferred to adult criminal courts

The trend towards incarcerating the young has provoked a howl of protest from human rights and civil liberties groups.

They argue that children can easily be confused by adult court proceedings and are often physically and sexually abused in jail. There have been numerous examples of children being murdered in jail, while others have committed suicide.

Whilst serving their sentences, they are often introduced to a cycle of crime and are robbed of their futures.

Complaints have also stemmed from the failure of the United States Senate to ratify the United Nations convention on the rights of the child, which was signed by President Bill Clinton in 1995.

It states that crimes committed by a juvenile should not result in execution or life imprisonment without the possibility of parole. Somalia is the only country not to have ratified the treaty.

Between 1973 and 2000, at least 17 men have been executed in the United States for crimes they committed as children.