There has been a lot of talk lately about the progression of the
brain of a teenager. Some say that the teenaged brain isn't fully
developed and the teenager doesn't have the capability to decide
between right and wrong in a complex situation.
This matter hits right at home for me. I was arrested at the age
of 17years old for a capital murder crime. Now if some of the top
child psychologist believe that the brain isn't fully developed
until a persons early 20’s then how is it that a l7 year old
teenager on drugs can be charged with an adult crime and be
sentenced to die? How? Because the system saw the situation only
as the surface presented it to be, and basically denied every
attempt to show them the deeper situation. And this is the
problem with our system. Not only are they in violation of an
International treaty for sending juveniles to death row, but they
are not taking the time to dissect the problem that's presented
before them with juvenile offenders.
Sure they say we have attorneys to do the work to be presented
before the judge in a process known as a "Youthful Offender
Status Hearing". But, unfortunately most of us (like me) were
and are stuck with court appointed attorneys, lawyers who are
underpaid and are going to do just enough so that they don't have to
put any of their money or extra time into the case. In my case
my attorneys did nothing to present a case at my youthful
offender hearing and I was flat out denied there. I was found fit
to stand trial as an adult. They didn't seem to care that I had a
troubled childhood, abused drugs, or that maybe I could have been
helped through institutional programs.
The system that has been set up for juvenile offenders is full of
holes. A system that is in serious need of repair. There are more and more juvenile offenders being sent to death row, when they
should be doing time in a short or long term program where there
are trained professional people to help them learn how to become
a productive member of society.
And for those who feel that the system does their job
Effectively, think about this, "It could be your son, nephew,
Brother, or grandson".
Thank you
Matt Hyde
21 May, 2002
************************
Matt Hyde Z-605
cell 5-D-9
Holman, 3700
Atmore, AL36503
Something to think about
Words from death row......
For a full list of articles written by Juveniles on Alabama's Death Row, go to the complete list of titles at
Stories.
