During Fall 2015 semester I took an honors seminar called “Kids Who Kill”. This course allowed me to analyze the history and demographics of homicidal children and adolescents; the theories and debates about psychosocial, genetic and metaphysical causation; legal issues and debates about punishment; and the evolution of the homicidal youth character in literature, film and television. The course explored this idea by having the class read fiction books, watch movies and documentaries, read articles published in various newspapers, magazines, and online forums, as well as read various neuroscience and criminal justice books and textbooks. At the end of the course, I also visited an incarceration facility for violent youth offenders to see the intersectionality between the justice system, violent youth offenders, and the factors that influence youths to break the law.
While the course does have quite a strange title, it was very interesting! Although I am an Electrical Engineering major, I have a strong interest in criminal justice. I even considered majoring in it! So, this course allowed me to explore an interest of mine aside from my major. I learned a lot about the juvenile justice system and how it was developed and improved. This course brought up many controversial and important topics, like “Is the juvenile system’s purpose rehabilitation (working to return delinquents to society) or retribution (holding in jail to pay for crimes)?” and “To what extent should brain chemistry and brain scans play a part in court”. It really made me think and question my stances on certain topics, and I was able to share and debate opinions with my classmates. It was really eye-opening, and I hope that this class is provided in the future!
Below, I have provided some papers that I wrote during the course. These papers focus on different aspects of “Kids Who Kill”, from the actual juvenile offenders themselves to the juvenile court system that deals with the juvenile offenders. The first paper was written in the middle of the semester, and it is the first paper where I consider/develop my stance on home violent juvenile offenders should be treated after watching a documentary called Lost for Life. The second paper was written at the very end of the semester after the class trip to Hillcrest, a juvenile correctional facility. I pulled from previous papers as well as included new information and opinions developed during the semester.
Below, I have provided some papers that I wrote during the course. These papers focus on different aspects of “Kids Who Kill”, from the actual juvenile offenders themselves to the juvenile court system that deals with the juvenile offenders. The first paper was written in the middle of the semester, and it is the first paper where I consider/develop my stance on home violent juvenile offenders should be treated after watching a documentary called Lost for Life. The second paper was written at the very end of the semester after the class trip to Hillcrest, a juvenile correctional facility. I pulled from previous papers as well as included new information and opinions developed during the semester.