1	The Juvenile Justice Foundation of the Carolinas Because Children Are Never Adults (speakers on)
2	Christopher Pittman Christopher Pittman of Chester, South Carolina, was 12 years of age when charged as an adult for the double murder of his beloved grandparents. These crimes were committed while Christopher was under the influence of Zoloft, an adult medication prescribed to him by a doctor who was not familiar with Christopher’s medical or psychological history. Christopher was held in a juvenile detention center as a 5’2”, 96 pound sixth grader and did not sit before a jury in the courtroom until he had grown to be a 6’1’ and 150 pound young man. He was convicted of murder and sentenced to 30 years in prison without the possibility of parole. His sentence is the minimum mandatory sentence allowed by South Carolina law for the crime he committed. At the age of 12 Christopher was, without the benefit of legal representation or a parent being present, allowed to waive his Miranda Rights and give multiple statements to the interrogators. Christopher was questioned for hours with no adult or attorney present at the time. He was held for a period of 3 years before the prosecutors would bring his case to trial. He had grown into a young man and the jury did not see the 12 year old that committed this crime.
3	A Child Convicted as an Adult Christopher Pittman at the age of 12 years old was given a mind altering drug, that was not intended or approved by the FDA for children under the age of 18. Christopher Pittman suffered with severe adverse reactions from Zoloft at the time of this tragic crime.
4	Pfizer Tell the Truth About Your Drugs!
5	The Truth: “Pt. began to verbalize feelings of killing other people, and then himself. Pt. looked much more anxious and depressed than baseline…”
6	Does This Look Like an Adult?
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8	Children Tried as Adults?
9	Christopher Pittman at the age of 12 was given 100 mgs. a day of Zoloft. Two days before this tragedy his dosage was raised to 200 mgs a day.
10	Important drug safety information to Health Canada: ZOLOFT: - Pfizer Canada Inc. 04-06-2004 “Adult and Pediatrics: Additional data: There are clinical trial and post marketing reports with SSRIs and other newer antidepressants, in both pediatrics and adults, of severe agitation-type adverse events coupled with self-harm or harm to others. The agitation-type events include: akathisia, agitation, disinhibition, emotional lability, hostility, aggression, depersonalization. In some cases, the events occurred within several weeks of starting treatment.” CHRISTOPHER SUFFERED FROM ALL OF THESE SIDE EFFFECTS.
11	There Must Be a Better Way.
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13	Juvenile Justice??
14	What can you do ? Add your name to justice for our children in the juvenile justice system by signing the online petition for Christopher’s Bill. You can make a difference for the children in your state. Write your representatives, Senators and your Governor demanding change for your state. Ask for their support to get Christopher’s Bill heard and passed in the United States Congress. We must become the change we want to see in this world.
15	Support Christopher’s Bill 1. NO CHILD UNDER THE AGE OF 14 MAY BE SUBJECTED TO MANDATORY SENTENCING. 2. CHILDREN UNDER THE AGE OF 14 WHEN CHARGED WITH A CRIME SHALL BE SUBJECT TO THE POSSIBILITY OF PAROLE OR RELEASE AT THE AGE OF 21. 3. CHILDREN WITHOUT A HISTORY OF PRIOR CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR SHALL NOT BE TRIED IN AN ADULT COURT. 4. REHABILITATION WITHIN THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM MUST INCLUDE COUNSELING AND EDUCATION. 5. CHILDREN UNDER THE AGE OF 14 MUST HAVE AN ATTORNEY OR GUARDIAN PRESENT BEFORE THEIR MIRANDA RIGHTS CAN BE READ. 6. CHILDREN UNDER THE AGE OF 14 MUST NOT BE QUESTIONED BY LAW ENFORCEMENT WITHOUT AN ATTORNEY OR GUARDIAN PRESENT. 7. ANY CHILD UNDER THE AGE OF 14 WHO COMMITS A CRIME WHILE UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF A PRESCRIBED MIND-ALTERING DRUG MUST BE TRIED AS A JUVENILE IN THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM. 8. ANY MENTALLY ILL OR MENTALLY DISADVANTAGED CHILD UNDER THE AGE OF 14 WHO COMMITS A CRIME MUST BE TRIED AS A JUVENILE IN THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM. 9. THIS BILL IS RETROACTIVE FOR 10 YEARS FOR CASES INVOLVING CHILDREN THAT WERE UNDER THE AGE OF 14 AT THE TIME OF THEIR ARREST AND LATER TRIED AND SENTENCED AS ADULTS.
16	Children Tried as Adults The juvenile justice system was created for this reason, for our offending youth to be offered counseling and rehabilitation, to be returned to society as productive members. By sentencing our offending youth as if they were an adult will only create a more dangerous criminal for our future. Children in adult prisons are 8 times more likely to be beaten, raped, killed, or to commit suicide from these abuses. Most are first offending children, yet they are sentenced to longer prison terms than if they had been an adult. Mentally ill children are being sent to adult prisons to be lost in an overcrowded system that can not offer them the services they need. Children are considered children in every aspect under the laws in this nation and should be in the judicial system as well. Children across this nation as young as 12 years old are being tried, convicted and sentenced as adults. Children are never adults
17	Christopher Pittman at the age of 15 was tried and sentenced as an adult.
18	Christopher Pittman Christopher Pittman was held for 3 years from the age of 12 until 15 before he ever had his day in court. Tried as an adult at 15, the jury did not see the 12 year old child that committed this crime. The South Carolina Supreme Court will hear Christopher’s case very soon. We must ask these questions: Does a 12 year old child know and understand Miranda Rights? Can a child of 12 be culpable of a crime? Should a 12 year old child be held to the same standards as an adult? At 12 were his constitutional rights violated? Can a child of 12 make informed decisions concerning his trial and does he know the ramifications of his decisions? Was Christopher denied the right to a speedy trial? Should he have been questioned without legal counsel? Did he get a fair and unbiased jury? Why does South Carolina continue to sentence their children as adults? South Carolina laws state that children 14 and younger can not be held culpable of their crimes. Yet Christopher Pittman at the age of 12 was held in isolation for 23 hours of every day for over 3 years. And grew into a young man before he would have his day in court.
19	Because Children Are Never Adults www.juvenilejusticefoundation.com www.justiceforjuveniles.org