Psychology

In class we discussed the disturbing case of John Wesley Elkins. In class we discussed the disturbing case of John Wesley Elkins. The facts are clear: When Elkins was only 11 years old he murdered his father and step-mother in the remote farmhouse they shared in rural Clayton County, Iowa in July 1889. A motive was never definitively established.
After briefly and unsuccessfully feigning innocence, Elkins did not dispute that he murdered his parents in a grizzly attack that left them unrecognizable. Indeed it was mostly the community of Clayton County Iowa that raised doubts. A boy of 11? A mere 73 pounds and 4’8″ tall? How does someone that age do such a thing? Was he covering for someone else?
He wasn’t. He did it. His confession left little doubt. The critical question, then, was: What do with him? The shocking nature of Elkin’s crime made it almost inevitable that he would be sentenced to hard labor for life in nearby maximum-security Anamosa prison. Still, there were those who wondered, was this right? A child among prison men? As was said at the time: “Certainly it seems a terrible and a pitiful thing for a mere lad of 11 or 12 to fall under the doom of a life sentence within prison walls, with not a gleam of hope for all the slowly passing years that may be his.”
Elkins spent the next 12 years at Anamosa. When he was brought to Anamosa the Warden hardly knew what to do with him; he was so young and so slight and frail. But he made him an orderly or errand boy in the warden’s office and he worked at that for a time. Then he was placed in charge of the library and had opportunity of working among the best books and reading them. He took advantage of this, educating himself and becoming proficient with the written and spoken word.
…I have tried to fit myself for the future by hard study, and I feel within me the working of forces which I am sure would enable me to wring victory out of defeat…
John Wesley Elkins, age 18, appealing for a pardon 7 years into a life sentence for the death of his parents
After 8 years John Wesley Elkins initiated the next phase in this surprising tale. He argued that he deserved to be released from prison. A full pardon. His appeal triggered a firestorm of protest, but he also had his supporters. After a long and bitter public debate about his case, the Governor of Iowa issued parole papers for Elkins, who walked out of the Penitentiary in 1902.
Part 1 Assignment
Below is a link to the online podcast, Criminal. EPISODE SIXTEEN: POSTER BOY. It picks up the story of John Wesley Elkins’s sentence and appeal and the debate this appeal raises regarding development and change. Only 17 minutes long and is riveting. Share with friends if you like.
https://soundcloud.com/criminalshow/episode-16-poster-boy (AUDIO PODCAST)

1. Listen to this audio podcast (below or direct link here).
2. In a paragraph of 4-5 sentences roughly, summarize the evidence that was used to argue against the pardoning Elkins. That is, according to the podcast, what lines of arguments did his detractors use to argue against his release? What did they accept as evidence that Elkins was unchanged and a murderer to the core?
3. In the Third unit of this course, called Biology and Destiny, we discussed Goddard’s analyses of the lineage of the parallel families started by revolutionary war soldier Martin Kallikak. Goddard’s analysis and publication occurred just a few years after the Elkins murders and pardon. If Goddart was aware (he likely was) of this sensational case, what do you think he would have made of the arguments put forth by the opponents to Elkins’ release. Would he have agreed? 1-2 sentences.
A motive was never definitively established.
Part 2 Assignment
In contemporary times, juvenile transfer (also called waiver or certification) laws dictate the types of offenses and offenders eligible for transfer from the juvenile court for trial and sentencing in the adult criminal court. Although it was not known as such, Elkins trial in an adult court and sentence to adult prison was effectively an instance of juvenile transfer. Beginning in the 1980s reforms lowered the minimum age for transfer, increased the number of transfer-eligible offenses, or expanded prosecutorial discretion and reduced judicial discretion in transfer decision making as part of a broader political climate of “getting tough on crime”. In the wake of these legislative changes, the number of youths convicted of felonies in criminal courts and incarcerated in adult correctional facilities has increased. At least part of the motivation for these changes was the hope that trying more youth as adults and sentencing them to adult-like conditions of confinement would be a deterrent to other youth and prevent serious crime. The results have been mixed. https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/ojjdp/220595.pdf

1. In one paragraph of 2-3 sentences, share your views on transferring juveniles such as Elkins who commit serious crimes to adult courts and incarcerating them in adult correctional facilities.
2. Next consider directly the sentencing of 11-year-old J Wesley Elkins to hard labor for life at Anamosa Penitentiary. Place yourself in the shoes of the senators who debated his parole and pardon as described in the podcast. How would you have voted? Why? (2-3 sentences)
3. Reflect on your answer to #2 above. What does this tell you about your assumptions about personality, criminality, and morality? (2-3 sentences)
4. From the podcast we learn how Elkin’s pardon worked out. Hindsight is 20/20. How would your views to #3 above change–or would they? –if the story of Elkins life after prison had turned out differently and almost the opposite? (2-3 sentences)