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Shotgun killing by juvenile in PA raising lots of legal and other challenges

By Douglas A. Berman

The latest shocking killing by a very young juvenile offender, this one in Pennsylvania, is creating legal and other difficulties for the prosecutor who has to figure out to do with a unique type of offender.  These challenges are noted in local articles: from the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review here, " DA not yet sure how to try boy accused of murder"; from the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette here, "Law ties DA's hands over jailing of juvenile in homicide."  Here are excerpts from the latter article, which highlights how hard cases make mandatory sentencing laws especially problematic for everyone involved in these cases: It's a case that cries for the wisdom of Solomon. On one hand, a pregnant mother of two was fatally shot in the back of the head and left to be found by her frightened 4-year-old who was alone in the house...continue to full post

Full post as published by Sentencing Law and Policy on February 23, 2009 (boomark / email).