Paximus, perhaps you missed the information that in Missouri AB will be held in dual jurisdiction under both the juvenile and adult systems determined by the judge, who is an elected official. We at WS cannot determine her punishment; we only state our opinion.
http://www.mobar.org/61bc5e96-6ab7-4586-9fb8-cc60bc179a25.aspx
"Who else is monitoring the quality of the state's judiciary?
Judges are the only elected officials who have a constitutionally required commission overseeing them. The Commission on Retirement, Removal and Discipline of Judges investigates all requests and suggestions for the retirement of judges because of disability. It also investigates all complaints concerning the misconduct of judges and members of the judicial commission. The Commission on Retirement, Removal and Discipline of Judges is composed of two lawyers, one Court of Appeals judge, one circuit judge, and two non-lawyers. They serve six-year terms. All Missouri state judges are required to retire at age 70.
To contact the Commission on Retirement, Removal and Discipline of Judges, write to the commission at 2190 South Mason Road, Suite 201, St. Louis, MO 63131, or call 314/966-1007.
What if I don't like the way a judge ruled on an issue that is important to me?
Judges are not elected to represent the opinions of voters. Their role is impartial: They must decide who is right and who is wrong in each individual case by applying the facts and the law without favor to either side. However, if you do not like a judge's record, it is your right to vote against that judge when he or she is on the ballot for retention."
And:
http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/ne...418FCF884BEA06B1862576750015EFC9?OpenDocument
"But even if Richardson succeeds in convicting Bustamante of first-degree murder,
it's still possible she will end up in the care of the state Division of Youth Services.
That's because Missouri is one of 22 states to have what is called a "dual jurisdiction" system. Under state law, if Bustamante was found guilty, a judge could consider keeping her under the care of the juvenile system — which is heavy on rehabilitation — until she is 21. At that point, another hearing would be held to determine if she was ready to be released, or sent to adult prison for the remainder of her sentence.
The "Missouri Model" is praised around the nation because its emphasis on community-based rehabilitation has produced very low recidivism rates, even among the violent criminals — most of them boys — sentenced through the juvenile system.
It's a system that works, says Harvard University professor Julie Boatright Wilson, because
it balances therapy with the rights of victims and concerns about keeping the community safe.
Wilson, who last year was part of a review of Missouri's juvenile justice system that earned the prestigious Annie E. Casey Innovations Award, said that programs that focus on rehabilitation for juveniles work because those who make it through the program don't repeat their crimes.
Of the 46 juveniles who have completed the state's rehabilitation program as part of a dual jurisdiction sentence, only 10 have ended up going back to prison, said Heberle. That's nearly an 80 percent success rate, which is much higher than traditional corrections programs."