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Juveniles - Don't Hide Murders
[Jul-20-2006]
HURRAH for Gov. Manchin, who has joined the call for public identification of violent teens who commit murder and other savage crimes.
State law forbids police and courts to name arrested juveniles, unless their cases are transferred to adult status or authorities establish probable cause that they perpetrated felonies. However, the robbery-murder of a young man in a Charleston bank parking garage by three youths prowling with a pistol stirred an outcry against concealment of such killers.
I can assure you that before the next regular session [of the Legislature], well be working very strongly, looking at those laws, the governor declared. Ill be out there fighting for them not to hide behind their age.... Age should not protect you from horrible crimes like the one that happened to that young man.
Bravo. The former policy of protecting dangerous juveniles is being abandoned across America. Many states now identify underage offenders the moment theyre charged with violent crimes. West Virginia should do likewise.
Schools, neighborhoods and the public are entitled to know the truth when a youth commits a deadly act. If teens are old enough to carry pistols and gun down defenseless victims, theyre old enough to have their names disclosed.
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