Ok #metoo people. Guilty or innocent?

@SW-User how much does a brain need to develop to understand the concept of consent? I agree that life imprisonment is a bit...too much. But...what?!

@SW-User what happened to innocent until proven guilty? They have no been convicted or does that not matter to you?

@SW-User They can understand consent just fine, although abstinence-only sex ed might cause them to not understand it. Regardless, part of the problem is that teenage brains undervalue the consequences of their actions, so the 4 in this story probably didn't adequately consider causing years of trauma to their victims, going to jail, etcetera. While that still shows what shitty people they are, it makes sense to use their lack of cognitive development as a point in their favor, so to speak, because it means they probably won't do the same shit again as an adult, when that doesn't come into play.

@SW-User Depends on the person. But the only way to know for sure is when it is certain they have fully developed. They're fifteen. They were twelve three years before this. They basically just got out of middle school. They may understand consent, but the fact is, at that age, the part of the brain that is responsible for decision making is still figuring itself out. That should be acknowledged. And the fact that they're being charged as adults is crazy, especially since they aren't adults. Doesn't matter what the crime is.

@Harley4Life I meant "assuming" that they've commited a crime, it seems like a lot for two teenagers.