Perhaps the biggest flaw in the judicial system is that law school cannot teach its students to differentiate between the vile and the victims. The case of Sarah Kruzan appears to be yet another one of those instances where rehabilitation is just a fancy word for “good riddance.”
Growing up with a drug addicted mother in California, Sarah Kruzan had the classic nightmarish childhood: abuse, rape, neglect — the usual suspects. Unsurprisingly, she trusted to a creep who claimed to have her best interests in mind, but eventually she killed him at the age of 16 years old. With the judge subsequently throwing the book at her like she had been around long enough to read it.
Why didn’t her back story come into play when evaluating her sentence? Why does the system pretend to hold certain individuals’ life in such high regard when they’re the plantiff when it’s the complete opposite as the defendant? And why couldn’t they see that they were committing a bigger homicide than what Ms. Kruzan admitted to?
Questions need answered before the problems are resolved.
For more information on the juvenile justice system, visit the National Center for Youth Law.
From: smokingsection.uproxx.com
Perhaps the biggest flaw in the judicial system is that law school cannot teach its students to differentiate between the vile and the victims. The case of Sarah Kruzan appears to be yet another one of those instances where rehabilitation is just a fancy word for “good riddance.”
Growing up with a drug addicted mother in California, Sarah Kruzan had the classic nightmarish childhood: abuse, rape, neglect — the usual suspects. Unsurprisingly, she trusted to a creep who claimed to have her best interests in mind, but eventually she killed him at the age of 16 years old. With the judge subsequently throwing the book at her like she had been around long enough to read it.
Why didn’t her back story come into play when evaluating her sentence? Why does the system pretend to hold certain individuals’ life in such high regard when they’re the plantiff when it’s the complete opposite as the defendant? And why couldn’t they see that they were committing a bigger homicide than what Ms. Kruzan admitted to?
For more information on the juvenile justice system, visit the National Center for Youth Law.
http://media.causes.com/595178?p_id=85516748
12 comments:
This again is a prime example of what happens when you are a victim of our justice system. (I do question why she
why she did not go to a teacher or the police as she herself states she was an honor student and wrote a book
about the effects of drug for which she won an award.) However, when you are poor and a minority in this
country, in almost all cases you do not receive "fair representation". Everyone wants to blame the judge, but did the
defense attorney (most likely court appointed) really bring into account the mitigating circumstances that led
to this girl's actions? We as a country love to shed light on the injustices of the human trafficking of young girls
in other countries, would she not fit the profile? How about all the abuse she suffered not only under her mother
but also at the hands of the man who would eventually become her pimp? If she had a good defense attorney
(aka paid defense attorney), the defense would have brought in forensic psychologists and any other expert to try to
ultimately acquit her or reduce her sentence to possibly a self defense or manslaughter conviction. Life plus 4 years
is not justified. In this case, everyone failed this girl - her family, the social services system, and more
importantly the justice system. I hope the organization that took her case, finally gets justice for her. I think 13 yrs.is
long enough. This again is a prime example of what happens when you are a victim of our justice system. (I do question why she
why she did not go to a teacher or the police as she herself states she was an honor student and wrote a book
about the effects of drug for which she won an award.) However, when you are poor and a minority in this
country, in almost all cases you do not receive "fair representation". Everyone wants to blame the judge, but did the
defense attorney (most likely court appointed) really bring into account the mitigating circumstances that led
to this girl's actions? We as a country love to shed light on the injustices of the human trafficking of young girls
in other countries, would she not fit the profile? How about all the abuse she suffered not only under her mother
but also at the hands of the man who would eventually become her pimp? If she had a good defense attorney
(aka paid defense attorney), the defense would have brought in forensic psychologists and any other expert to try to
ultimately acquit her or reduce her sentence to possibly a self defense or manslaughter conviction. Life plus 4 years
is not justified. In this case, everyone failed this girl - her family, the social services system, and more
importantly the justice system. I hope the organization that took her case, finally gets justice for her. I think 13 yrs.is
long enough.
It is sad to see and to hear what she had been through at a young age,she don't deserve any more punishment in her life ,the only thing she deserve is some good therapy for what she had already been through.
she don't deserve to be punish for something every one should think that is a good deed she had done for humanity , can some one imagine how many life that man had destroy like hers before he got killed ,no i dont think so.
That is not fair, what message that judge think his sending to those who are abusing those kids , it's okay to do what you doing as long none of those kids don't come forward to denounce you or the don't killed you, and the kids will always feel those sick people are the only one who loves them. until one day those poor kids will become tired of that life style ,and will try to do whatever in their power to come out of that situation. I think that's what happen to that poor girl. i don't care what the judge thought is justice or not because, she deserve a second change to be free and to serve as a testimony for others, she look like some one who have a lot to offer in life.another think i don't care how she killed that man for me he deserve it. JS7920
Yes Sarah deserves pinishment, but nit life in prison. Althought she took a person life, how much of a punishment would he have gotten for using those young ladies as prostitutes, probably nothing. Understand GG had a life he lived it and grew up to do what he wanted to do with it however, Sarah had no life, no childhood let's think about the crime he's commited. The poor child didn't even Stand a chance, it's a real shame, it is. Someone could kill someone now and get five years. The judicial system needs to be set in stone, but the way it works is it's all about the judge you get or who you know. It really discusses me.!!
TBynum 9458
This is definitely unfair especially with seeing that the California law was not that harsh on minors. It seems like she was just dealt a bad hand and another judge would have given her a break. She seems very intelligent so who knows I suppose she might still be able to make good behavior or there might be some kind of hope. I wonder if maybe there is a rule like the rape shield statutes that doesn't allow the judge to consider any situations before the crime because it isn't relevant even though some times it is. LC1736
Well , i am sympathetic toward the girl ; however , i do severely criticize her legal counsel. As legal counsel of Sarah Kruzan, i would have her face the jury with her "poignant story" for she appears to be good looking and articulate not to mention innocent . By doing so , it increases credibility in her and the story .
In my opinion , I would venture to say that the girl retained a bad lawyer. Therefore , the other side played up the fact that the girl killed an individual during the trial.
I am sorry , it is California anyway!!!
LJ 6631
it's okay to do what you doing as long none of those kids don't come forward to denounce you or the don't killed you, and the kids will always feel those sick people are the only one who loves them. until one day those poor kids will become tired of that life style ,and will try to do whatever in their power to come out of that situation.
Here I am again. Sarah Kruzan is an exemplar of an injustice system. In addition, it costs the state $210,000.00 annually to keep one juvenile in confinement. Now, New York State wants to stop free Metro buspass for the students to go to school. Is this not a technique to encourage crime? Who are these people that use free buspass, what are their parents socio-economic class? Obviously, these children cannot afford buspass, thus will look for viable way to get to school whether by stealing, beating the school bus drivers it is unknown now. But surely, the justice system charges are awaiting. Again, the laws are made to entrap the disadvantage. There will be no magical changes until we the people start addressing solutions to the problems that our communities are facing today, such as: education, unemployment, unequual represention and others .
A.A. 2467
I think she should have been put into a rehabilitation program to help her psychologically she was put through alot an i dont think the judge took that into consideration I feel so sorry for her because there are alot of cases like hers an those victims never get help before they have to take matters in their own hands and then punished for their actions/reactions...SBD 3013
Unfortunitly this is a common story about proverty stricken teens/children. Because of those exceptions where a person was able to rise above all the odds, those who don't are looked down on. It pains me to see that her defense lawyer didn't put more of an infence on her upbringing. How can a judge even sentence her without any manditory rehabilitation. Today's court system is a relection of the times inwhich we live. Basically today we are exspected to pull ourselves up by our own boot straps. As they say, "Dont blame the system".....but the system is to blame, when she was abused from as early as infency. These storys are just too sad.
It is sad to think that even befor she committed her crime, she was already among the walking dead, thanks to her male firend, who tamed her and molded her for his profit and gain. And even though dead dogs don't wag no tails, it is even sadder that the judical system did not reconize or take into acount the damage that was already done to this teenager. To punish her for what she did is one thing but taking the rest of her life is another thing, all together it does not add up to death row. Elizabeth Segarra
i believe that if teenagers want to act like adults, doing drugs, smoking, and drinking. then why treat them like kid? we should treat them like adults and teach them a lesson, SCARE THEM STRAIGHT!
When a teenager act and do things that adults do, well yes they should be treated like an adult. And they should learn their lesson, and next time they will stay in their place as a child.
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