The 57 Bus Response Paper

The 57 Bus Response Paper The 57 Bus by Dashka Slater is a novel based on a 2013 assault that occurred when two teens were riding home from school on The 57 Bus in Oakland, California. One teen on the bus was Sasha (further referred to as they, there, and them), who was sixteen years old and identified as being agender. They were wearing a skirt, yet looked male and were asleep in the bus. The other teen, named Richard (further referred to as he, him, and his) lit Sasha's skirt on fire, through the peer pressure of his friends. He did this because his friends and him believed it was strange that a “male” was wearing a skirt. Over 22 percent of Sasha’s body was left with third-degree burns. The story is divided into four parts: "Sasha," "Richard," "The Fire," and "Justice." Furthermore, Slater uses these parts to explore the lives of these two teens, their pasts, their friends and families, and the events that led them to the day on the bus. The novel discussed issues of race, sexuality, equality, and gender in understanding ways. In the end, Richard was charged as an adult with two hate crimes and faced life in prison. After reading this novel, I believe Richard should not have been tried as an adult. Throughout this paper against juveniles being charged as adults, for juveniles being charged as adults, and Richards case will be discussed. Adults know how to accept responsibility, have plans for the future, and are financially independent. Moreover, they generally know right from wrong and know what can cause them to be incarcerated and what cannot. Despite the severity of the crime, juveniles are still children and are not developed with maturity quit yet or could have been negatively peer pressured. When a juvenile is sent to adult prison, they have an adult cellmate. Juveniles and adults being cellmates can cause the juvenile to get influenced negatively. Adults will take advantage of them and possibly get the juveniles into more trouble. Juveniles will not be able to mature properly because the cellmate is not in their age range. Rather than the juveniles being sent to a rehabilitation center where they can be accompanied by other children who are in a similar position. By them going to this institution it can help them become more of a positive person inside and out. It is clear that adults and children are totally not similar, so they should be treated differently. Ways they can better themselves: having the right of still being able to get an education, they could possibly have a job, they will not be influenced by individuals if so it would be peer pressure, and be around individuals in their age group. Thus, these things can happen for them through a rehabilitation center or juvenile detention center. With so many individuals concerned about the increase in violent crimes in society, the logical place to begin changing this dangerous trend is with the youth. Nevertheless, youths in the current generation observing this system as a slap on the hand and use it to commit heinous crimes because they know the juvenile law system will let them off. Therefore, despite the fact that incarceration does not offer solutions to criminal problems in a country, punishing juveniles by trying them in adult courts is necessary. Moreover, giving second chances to every crime particularly the serious ones, the youths continue destroying individuals lives and the country at large because the law opts not to inflict severe punishment. Accountability is necessary for criminals. Victims perceive the juvenile system as an injustice. Families of the rape, murder, and violent victims watch as the law shields the guilty party, causing a feeling of lack of justice. It is true that some juveniles development and environment pushed them toward crime. However, they need to be responsible for their actions as each person, even minors have the capability to understand that a certain behavior is a criminal offense and is wrong. Therefore, treating them as adults sets an example to other teens thinking of committing a crime. Just as these juveniles age did not prevent them from committing a serious crime, then it should not stop them from receiving the maximum punishment. Throughout the novel, the readers get to read what Richards had been through before the crime was committed and what exactly happened from his perspective regarding the crime. Richard had been charged as an adult and was facing life in prison, which was shocking after having read his story. Many individuals weren’t thinking about Richard and how taking the right path is difficult when growing up in a poor environment. Moreover, it is understandable they weren't thinking about him, as Sascha was badly affected. The novel does mention that individuals were against Richard being tried as an adult, yet the court did not listen to these individuals. Richard and Sasha had different obstacles to overcome in life. The obstacles Richard had to overcome were a lack of education, growing up in a poor environment, and being treated differently based on his race. These obstacles were caused by society, before this trial. How is it determined that a person should not have a second chance at the age of 16? Moreover, facing life in prison means that he does not deserve a second chance. By being sent to prison for the rest of his life, he does not get a chance to make up for his ONE mistake. Yes, it was an immense mistake, but in his case, he deserves a second chance. The 57 bus b y Dashka Slater is a heartbreaking, compassionate, and enlightening true story. Slater wrote the novel in an insightful way. She did not choose a side in the tragedy, instead, she chose to explore all sides of the story and explain it neutrality. She was also able to challenge the reader's personal opinions of what is morally right and wrong, through her writing. As a reader, there is no choice but to acknowledge the enormous power of the social environment in shaping the youth. At first glance, it might appear that Richard made an easy criminal choice, but the readers soon find out this was not the case. In conclusion, there is no right choice with choosing if a juvenile can be tried as an adult. Overall the legal system all over the nation is flawed, making it difficult for a judge to fully understand how someone should be tried. In this case, as a reader, I believe he should have been tried as a juvenile. Furthermore, this would have taught him a lesson and an opportunity to better his future life.