Court Opinion

ID: 9484205
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-05 09:43:35.025152+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:50:04.918096
License: Public Domain

HEANEY, Senior Circuit Judge,
concurring in,part and dissenting in part.
Had I been the district court judge, I would not have granted the motion to transfer either of these juveniles for prosecution as adults. I cannot, however, say that the district court abused its discretion in transferring T.L.F. because, according to the experts, his prospects for rehabilitation do not appear bright. Thus, I join my colleagues in affirming the district court as to the transfer of T.L.F.
I do not believe, however, that the transfer of G.T.W. is in the interest of justice. I believe the district court abused its discretion in granting the motion to transfer him, and I must therefore respectfully dissent regarding G.T.W.
The purpose of the federal juvenile delinquency proceeding is to remove juveniles from the ordinary criminal process to avoid the stigma of a criminal conviction and to encourage treatment and rehabilitation. United States v. Brian N., 900 F.2d 218, 220 (10th Cir.1990). The district court may grant a motion to transfer a juvenile for prosecution as an adult, but only after the court has considered and made individual findings for each juvenile with respect to the six specific factors cited by the district court, and reiterated above by the majority: (1) the juvenile’s age and social background; (2) the nature of the alleged offense; (3) the extent and nature of the juvenile’s prior delinquency record; (4) the juvenile’s present intellectual development and psychological maturity; (5) the nature of past treatment efforts and the juvenile’s response to such efforts; and (6) the availability of programs designed to treat the juvenile’s behavioral problems.
Here the district court appears to lump these two black youths together. The district court stated that both youths had a lack of success in conforming their behavior to the requirements of the law, and that both have had the benefit of extended periods of either probation or court supervision. The nature of the probation or supervision, however, is not disclosed. In G.T.W.’s case, the only serious infraction was possession of a handgun. His other past offenses were failing to show up for court hearings and skipping school.
G.T.W. grew up in Illinois with his welfare mother in an environment of drugs, violence, and gang activities. Testing by a clinical psychologist found G.T.W. to be just above *201borderline intelligence with a possible learning disability. Further tests showed that he had the intelligence of a seven-year-old with poor social judgment.
On the day of the alleged robbery, then 17 years old, G.T.W. had been drinking. He and his friend picked up an adult hitchhiker who suggested that the juveniles rob a bank. Although the evidence shows that G.T.W. brandished a weapon and made threats during the alleged robbery, the evidence also shows that, unlike T.L.F., he played a minor role, did not fire his weapon, and did not directly participate in the removal of money from the bank.
Testing revealed that G.T.W. was depressed with a real sense of crisis. Medical expert testimony indicated that G.T.W. needs placement in a fairly structured program which includes disciplinary and vocational training, together with sobriety and substance-abuse programs. Further medical expert testimony indicated that G.T.W. possesses a conscience, has a reasonable prospect of being rehabilitated before he reaches the age of 21, and that he would be better off in a juvenile institution.
Despite this background and medical testimony, and the district court’s explicit finding that G.T.W. has never received treatment for his behavioral problems, the majority now affirms his transfer for prosecution as an adult. If G.T.W. is tried as an adult and convicted, his prison sentence will be between ten and twelve years, at a cost to the United States Government of more than $200,000. I have great difficulty believing that either G.T.W. or society will benefit from this huge expenditure. Less expensive, more beneficial, and more in the interest of justice, would be a well-defined program of rehabilitation.