Should the Rancho HS Teens Be Tried As Adults?

Last year, nine teens were arrested in connection with the horrific beating death of Rancho High School student Jonathan Lewis. And just last week, four of them were sent back from adult court to juvenile court as part of a plea agreement that reduces their maximum sentence. The outrage has been palpable: Social media users have called the accused adolescents “monsters,” and Lewis’s mother said the decision was “disgusting.” So should the teens have been tried as adults? What’s really going on here? Co-host Dayvid Figler talks with UNLV Boyd School of Law professor Eve Hanan about why we have juvenile court in the first place, and why some teens (and not others) are sentenced in adult court.

Want to get in touch? Follow us @CityCastVegas on Instagram, or email us at lasvegas@citycast.fm. You can also call or text us at 702-514-0719.

For more Las Vegas news, make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter, Hey Las Vegas.

Looking to advertise on City Cast Las Vegas? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise.