NCJ Number
168153
Date Published
1996
Length
2 pages
Annotation
A judge sentenced two Indian teenagers to prison for an attack on a pizza delivery driver, cutting short an experiment in justice in which the youths were banished to remote Alaskan islands.
Abstract
Snohomish County Judge John Allendoerfer ended the year-long judicial rehabilitation experiment because of "flaws which unfortunately threaten its credibility and integrity." Although the judge said he saw dramatic changes for the good in Simon Roberts and Adrian Guthrie, the juvenile offenders, he said there were too many problems with banishment, including reports of unauthorized travel and infighting among Alaska tribal judges. The experiment was to have continued for another 6 months, but the judge had reserved the right to recall the 18-year-olds at any time. Both of the offenders believed the banishment experience had helped them mature. Roberts was sentenced to 4 years and 7 months in prison (he wielded the bat in the beating), and Guthrie received 2 years and 7 months in prison. In giving them sentences at the low end of the State's standard range, the judge said he took into consideration the teens' improvement in attitude. The deputy prosecutor, who opposed the banishment, said the prison sentence should have been imposed a year ago. "I don't believe in experimenting with public safety," he said.