Strong Legal Action Needed for Macon Juveniles

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Author: Rhonda Johnson

Started: May 22, 2007, 2:03:41 pm

Target: Assiatant District Attorney Gerald Henderson

Category: Civil & Human Rights

Supporters:

Goal:

100,000

Goal Progress:

Status

Active

Petition
Strong Legal Action Needed for Macon Juveniles
May 17, 2007

Assistant District Attorney Gerald Henderson
601 Mulberry Street
Macon, GA 31021
(478) 749-6400
(478) 621-6329 (fax)

* This petition is regarding the felony aggravated cruelty to animalsâ€™ arrest of three juveniles in Macon, GA on Tuesday, May 15, 2007.

* We, the undersigned, strongly believe the three (3) juveniles (two 14 year-olds and one 13 year-old) should be prosecuted to the fullest extent the law allows. It is vital that these three (3) juveniles be required to have a psychological evaluation. (See Provisions below.)

GEORGIA ANIMAL CRUELTY CRIMINAL PROVISIONS

16-12-4. Cruelty to animals.

(c)â€¦A person convicted of the offense of aggravated cruelty to animals shall be punished by imprisonment for not less than one or more than five years, a fine not to exceed $15,000.00, or both, provided that any person who is convicted of a second or subsequent violation of this subsection shall be punished by imprisonment for not less than one or more than five years, a fine not to exceed the amount provided by Code Section 17-10-8, or both.
(d) Before sentencing a defendant for any conviction under this Code section, the sentencing judge may require psychological evaluation of the offender and shall consider the entire criminal record of the offender.

* Many studies show that violent offenders frequently have childhood and adolescent histories of serious and repeat animal cruelty. The FBI has recognized the connection since the 1970â€™s. The American Psychiatric Association considers animal cruelty one of the diagnostic criteria of conduct disorder.

* Abuse by juveniles needs to be stopped before it inevitably becomes a pattern of behavior that only escalates into spouse or parental abuse or murder.
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This petition will end on Thursday, May 24, 2007. This is so that these signatures can be turned into Assiatant District Attorney Gerald Henderson the day before these juveniles go to court.

The following links can tell you more of the story "3 teens accused of burning dog alive"

Original Story- http://www.macon.com/220/story/43246.html

Update- http://www.macon.com/149/story/43487.html

Arrested- http://www.macon.com/198/story/43843.html

Thank you!