Youngest convicted killer in US to be released from prison

[webfact]

Youngest convicted killer in U.S. to be released from prison
BY DOYLE MURPHY NEW YORK DAILY NEWS

He was a killer at 12, but he’ll soon be a free man.

NEW YORK: -- Curtis Jones, once the youngest convicted murderer in the nation, is set to be released from a Florida prison more than 15 years after he gunned down his father’s girlfriend.

The pint-sized shooter and his 13-year-old sister, Catherine Jones, were convicted in 1999 in the shocking killing, Florida Today reported.

The young siblings hatched the murder plot together, arming themselves with their father’s pistol as they prepared.

They originally planned to slaughter their father and an adult male relative who lived with them as well, but they grew frightened after the first kill and ran into the woods.

The brother and sister claimed they were sexually abused by the male relative. Their father and his girlfriend didn’t believe them, despite a child services report acknowledging there were signs of abuse, so they took matters into their own tiny hands.

Full story: http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/youngest-convicted-killer-u-s-released-prison-article-1.2299562

-- NEW YORK DAILY NEWS 2015-07-23

[Scott]

Generally speaking, if there is an indication of sexual abuse for whatever reason, the children should have been removed from the home and placed with relatives or in foster care. This was a completely preventable situation.

[Somtamnication]

Unfortunately, the US justice system is to lock them and throw away the key. I worked 18 years as a cop there. Never understood the reasoning behind charging children as adults.

[BKKBobby]

Shouldnt have been to prison to begin with. A child is a child. 12 years old kid, gee... He should have received care and therapy. Sexually abused, father dont listen, hes desperate, cornered and snaps.

[masquerade]

Hope the rest of your life goes well, you have done it hard by being tormented twice.

[empireboy]

Good luck with your future....

[otherstuff1957]

His sister is also due for release soon. She is 30 and he is 29. By all accounts, it sounds like they should never have been arrested. Hopefully they can get on with their lives now.

[Benmart]

Generally speaking, if there is an indication of sexual abuse for whatever reason, the children should have been removed from the home and placed with relatives or in foster care. This was a completely preventable situation.

"This was a completely preventable situation".

Hindsight bias, also known as the knew-it-all-along effect or creeping determinism, is the inclination, after an event has occurred, to see the event as having been predictable, despite there having been little or no objective basis for predicting it.

[twocatsmac]

Unfortunately, the US justice system is to lock them and throw away the key. I worked 18 years as a cop there. Never understood the reasoning behind charging children as adults.

Could the reasoning be they committed premeditated cold blooded murder?

[Scott]

Generally speaking, if there is an indication of sexual abuse for whatever reason, the children should have been removed from the home and placed with relatives or in foster care. This was a completely preventable situation.

"This was a completely preventable situation".

Hindsight bias, also known as the knew-it-all-along effect or creeping determinism, is the inclination, after an event has occurred, to see the event as having been predictable, despite there having been little or no objective basis for predicting it.

No, it is not hindsight bias. Having worked in the field of Child Protective Services, including internationally, even in some relatively poor countries, an indication of child sexual abuse would result in the children being removed. It is standard practice in a lot of countries. This is for the protection of the children.

Families tend to fall apart rather rapidly with the spouse and other children choosing one side or the other.

If there is sufficient evidence then the perpetrator (usually the father, stepfather or boyfriend) can be arrested and the children may be able to remain in the home, but quite frequently the mother will side with the perpetrator and the child or children need to be removed.

The victim and the perpetrator are separated and in such a way that they do not have access to one another until there is a resolution to the situation.

At the time this situation occurred there was little pressure on authorities to keep the children in the home. The staffing situation with protective services was much better than it is today. Courts and judges were quick to grant temporary custody of the children in sex abuse cases to the State.

This situation was avoidable. I am curious as to why it wasn't and I wonder why they were sentenced to prison.

[samran]

Unfortunately, the US justice system is to lock them and throw away the key. I worked 18 years as a cop there. Never understood the reasoning behind charging children as adults.

Politics, im sure...

[Basil B]

Sounds to me that these are just two kids failed by the system...

Did they go to school, if so were their teachers trained to spot the the signs of child abuse?

Once again Americas lax gun laws, not only any Tom, Dick or Harry can have a gun, they do not have to keep it safe.

Here in the UK.

1. You need a licence to own a gun
2. You wont get a licence with out good reason
3. You wont get a licence if you have a criminal record, even for some minor offences
4. You wont get a licence if you have or even suspected of having any mental health issues (including substance abuse)
5. You have to keep guns in a secure gun cabinet and the ammunition separate place
6. And no one can own a hand gun (only hand guns allowed are owned by the military or police authorities)