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Comment by Clewza313 | Hacker News Reader

> No programs or classes, no visitors, phone calls, or human touch, deprived of books, magazines, TV, and radio, and barred from talking or even looking out of his cell door

And this for a 13-year-old, who was sentenced to life without parole. WTF.

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This is what "tough on crime" gets you - a race to the bottom.

At that point, the state is as criminally brutish as those it seeks to morally disparage and demean, and has lost any right to even be listened to.

I wonder how this guy even stayed verbal.

Here in Germany children under 14 can't even be guilty of any crime whatsoever. US society truly seems barbaric sometimes.

Just another instance where American teenagers are more advanced.

The US has a violent minority population that persists in offending.

Germany is importing a similarly violent cohort. I'm sure your teens will catch-up.

The same 13-year old was doing armed robbery and only by chance his victim did not die.

Ok. And in what wild world of ethics does this even hint at being justified?

Torture is not punishment. Torture is torture.

I would argue torture is punishment, but punishment is not justice. Strongly recommend "Discipline and Punish" by Michel Foucault as an introduction to how our society operates in regards to social control.

It sucks that they thought that was a good idea. A good hard look should be taken at the environment that led to that.

Also: why not teach them to be better, do you think 13 year olds are incapable of learning?

At 13 years old you cannot decide to have sex, vote, drive, drink and so on, exactly because you are unable to decide or take responsibility.

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