Various factors that influence prison sentences

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ENGLISH 301B CRIMINAL INJUSTICE ESSAY #1 REVISION SPRING 2014 Pastrana

In an article in the Los Angeles Times on January 13, 2014 titled "Growing up in prison", Elizabeth Calvin discusses Edel Gonzalez, a 38 year old prison inmate from California who was "sentenced to life in prison with no possibility of parole" at age 16 for his role in a murder. Edel Gonzalez was with two adults when the three tried to steal a car. One of the adults shot and killed the driver whose car they were attempting to steal. Although Gonzalez did not do the shooting, he was convicted of murder for the role he played. A law which went into effect last year lets "judges review the cases of youths who were in effect sentenced to die in prison" (A13).

On the other hand, Ashley Hayes, in her online CNN article of 12/13/13 titled "'Affluenza': Is it real?", discusses the case of 16 year old Ethan Couch. Ethan Couch was driving with a blood alcohol level of "0.24, three times the legal limit for someone of legal drinking age" when he hit and killed four people in June, 2013. Couch's attorneys argued that his condition, which they termed "affluenza", "stemmed from having wealthy privileged parents who never set limits on him." The judge did not sentence Couch to jail time, but rather to 10 years' probation. Couch was to enter an alcohol treatment facility, also.

ASSIGNMENT:

By utilizing your timed writing, the readings by Hayes and Calvin, your own experience and observations, write a focused and well-developed essay in which you:

•    First explain to what extent a person's economic status can influence their jail/prison sentence. Be sure to discuss the Gonzalez and Couch cases.

•    Then, discuss whether a minor should ever be sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

CRITERIA FOR EVALUATION:

•    A well-constructed thesis that is clear and purposeful

•    Coherent topic sentences in each paragraph that clearly support the thesis

•    Focused and organized essay structure (thesis, topic sentences, etc.)

•    Unified and well-developed paragraphs throughout

•    Specific and detailed support and evidence for your arguments

•    Relevant support from the Hayes and/or Calvin articles. Two quotes or paraphrases from one or both articles. MLA format

•    Thorough and logical analysis of your ideas

•    Sentence variety and appropriate diction (NO contractions)

•    Clear sentences edited for grammar, language, and sentence structure problems

Paper Format:

All out-of-class essays must be formatted according to MLA style. Always provide 1" margins at the top, bottom, and sides, and use a 12-point font such as Arial or Times New Roman. Don't forget to add page numbers and your last name.

Grading:

All out-of-class essays will receive a letter grade, using the rubric on Beachboard. Due Date and Specifications:

The rough draft is due 2/17 for peer evaluations. Please bring a hard copy of your essay to class.

The final draft is due 2/19. The required length for the revision is 5 FULL pages (not including Works Cited page). Bring a hard copy to class and submit your essay electronically to Dropbox before class 2/19.