This is something that ticks me off, so you'll have to excuse me while I rant for a little while. I'm sorry.
Ok, now I can go....
It really upsets me to see 12, 13, 14, even 15 or 16 years old children tried as adults. These kids are so young that they still have a lot of growth to do, mentally and physically. Moreover most crimes that children that age are tried for adults in are horrible violent ones. When I child that age, especially the younger span of that group commits a violent act there are serious psychological problems. Rehabilitation is still a very viable option. It is for older people to but that's a diffrent issue.
But seriously, can you see putting a 13 year old child to death becuase they killed an abusive parent? Or even another child. Yes it is a hanous crime. But is also a massive red flag that something is wrong with that child, and just locking them up doesn't help anyone. All it does is keep our tax dollars supporting them until they are eligible of geriatric parole. That's a lot of money. Besides you are taking all of the years and years of life and potential that a young child like that has and destroying it. Yes that child did something to deserve it, and perhaps he/she was old enough to tell right from wrong, but there was somethign that drove them to do it, but often somethin in their life makes them think they must do something they know is wrong. It is just wrong.
I guess i should note that I don't believe in death penalty period so...