They actually granted youthful offender status and I am just sitting here shaking because I honestly thought the system was going to lock them up for good. We really pulled this off and those boys get a second chance at life now which feels like a total miracle considering how …
February 23, 2020
Final supporters
We who have signed this petition believe that the 17-year-old boys, charged with first-degree robbery in March 2019, should not be sent to prison as a consequence for the crime that they openly acknowledged committing while under the influence of illicit drugs.
It is without question that consequences must occur for this crime; however, we do not believe that those consequences should include a prison sentence. In light of their young age and being first time offenders, we believe that a youthful offender status is an appropriate determination, offering these teenage boys an opportunity to have a successful future and a chance to better themselves without the stigma of a convicted felon classification.
Updates
Reached 250 supporters
November 25, 2019
Reached 100 supporters
November 19, 2019
November 18, 2019
I was just looking at the count and we are almost at one hundred which feels huge but honestly my mind is still spinning thinking about these boys in a cell. If you could just send this link to a few people right now then maybe we can actually hit that mark and keep this energy moving before things go quiet.
104 Comments
Praying that the boys get help for their issues to set them up to be positive and contributing members of society and not just condemn them to a punishment that won’t deal with the root causes of the behavior but only lead to a hardened mentality, causing more damage.
I feel a child should not be detained with grown men. We have juvenile jails for this reason. We need to house our youth together. You would not put a grown man with a child? Right? Something to consider with this child of 17 who in the eyes of the law (law books) written he is under age. Thank you, Lori Sterling
This young man made a bad choice at what he did. He does not need to become another statistic. Alabama needs to try to rehabilitate not put the young in jail and throw away the key.
We as a country have a huge drug addiction problem. This esteemed from an addiction and if he has no other violent crimes in his past then please don't send him to prison. First get him help with his addiction and help him beat it. Once he's sober I'm sure he will see the awful crime he did
I know this young man very well. He's my step son and I was their just a few years ago witnessing him and his brother Steven being baptized. I know there's no way he should be going to prison. He's a very good kid and most definitely needs a chance to have a good, productive life.
i think they deserve a second chance. i don't know the one boy, but watching from the outside James seems a lot different. & people can change!
With me being close to the age these boys are I feel they need a second chance. I was a hell child. I have don’t every drug I have stole from people close to me and I was homeless. Today I am almost a year clean. Have my own family. My own place and no charges. People can change. They are young as youngsters we need second chances locking them up so young is gonna make them go crazy ! Help them not hurt them !!!!
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They actually granted youthful offender status and I am just sitting here shaking because I honestly thought the system was going to lock them up for good. We really pulled this off and those boys get a second chance at life now which feels like a total miracle considering how …
February 23, 2020
Final supporters
We who have signed this petition believe that the 17-year-old boys, charged with first-degree robbery in March 2019, should not be sent to prison as a consequence for the crime that they openly acknowledged committing while under the influence of illicit drugs.
It is without question that consequences must occur for this crime; however, we do not believe that those consequences should include a prison sentence. In light of their young age and being first time offenders, we believe that a youthful offender status is an appropriate determination, offering these teenage boys an opportunity to have a successful future and a chance to better themselves without the stigma of a convicted felon classification.
Updates
Reached 250 supporters
November 25, 2019
Reached 100 supporters
November 19, 2019
November 18, 2019
I was just looking at the count and we are almost at one hundred which feels huge but honestly my mind is still spinning thinking about these boys in a cell. If you could just send this link to a few people right now then maybe we can actually hit that mark and keep this energy moving before things go quiet.
104 Comments
I believe they should be punished, but not prison at this age. These young boys would be prey for some of the criminals in our system. We have some of the worst prisons in the country. They are barely short of concentration camps.
Praying that the boys get help for their issues to set them up to be positive and contributing members of society and not just condemn them to a punishment that won’t deal with the root causes of the behavior but only lead to a hardened mentality, causing more damage.
I feel a child should not be detained with grown men. We have juvenile jails for this reason. We need to house our youth together. You would not put a grown man with a child? Right? Something to consider with this child of 17 who in the eyes of the law (law books) written he is under age. Thank you, Lori Sterling
This young man made a bad choice at what he did. He does not need to become another statistic. Alabama needs to try to rehabilitate not put the young in jail and throw away the key.
We as a country have a huge drug addiction problem. This esteemed from an addiction and if he has no other violent crimes in his past then please don't send him to prison. First get him help with his addiction and help him beat it. Once he's sober I'm sure he will see the awful crime he did
I know this young man very well. He's my step son and I was their just a few years ago witnessing him and his brother Steven being baptized. I know there's no way he should be going to prison. He's a very good kid and most definitely needs a chance to have a good, productive life.
i think they deserve a second chance. i don't know the one boy, but watching from the outside James seems a lot different. & people can change!
With me being close to the age these boys are I feel they need a second chance. I was a hell child. I have don’t every drug I have stole from people close to me and I was homeless. Today I am almost a year clean. Have my own family. My own place and no charges. People can change. They are young as youngsters we need second chances locking them up so young is gonna make them go crazy ! Help them not hurt them !!!!
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I believe they should be punished, but not prison at this age. These young boys would be prey for some of the criminals in our system. We have some of the worst prisons in the country. They are barely short of concentration camps.