You're right, it was crap. B & E of an occupied structure with a handgun = premeditation/felony.

Legal part wasn't very legitimate in my opinion.
The main kid was in the house with a gun, performing a break an enter at the time of the suicide. He would almost definitely get a larger sentence than the other kid who was at home.
If you want to criticize the US legal system, show some actual case law.

Whatever they intended or didn't, they did not know the man's psychological state; that he had not beaten his wife, but nursed her lovingly, and was almost certainly clinically depressed and very likely suicidally inclined. They acted carelessly, and with the intent to frighten the man. Sentenced as adults; prison for 2 years, 6-8 suspended, and then intensive probation for 5 - meaning if you stop at a 7/11 for a soda and it wasn't on the weekly schedule you gave to your probation officer, back to prison you go. Breaking into an occupied structure is a felony in most states. And Sean isn't less culpable just because
he's a pussy.

I agree w/ Foxbarking. They should have received some therapy and not be allowed computer access for a year or 2 if that's even possible these days.

I disagree completely. In fact, I would go as far as to say your opinion is one of the biggest things wrong with our criminal justice system.
They were inadvertently responsible for the death of a hurting man. Yes, their "experiment" was dreadful and pushed a man towards suicide. However, there was no intent to do this. And honestly, considering the evidence, there was little to no indication that this was what was going to happen.
So what does taking two minors who, although they did a dreadful thing, did not intend to push a man to suicide and placing them in prison for 15 years going to do? It's going to pretty much waste tax payer money for more than 15 years. It's going to remove ANY chance of rehabilitation for them. With that sort of sentence on their record, they're unlikely to get any worthwhile job when they get out, which further puts them as a drain on society and HIGHLY increases their likelihood to engage in further criminal activity once they get out of jail.
The juvenile criminal justice system in the United States is based on the concept that minors are easier to rehabilitate than adults are. So yes, their sentence was realistic. However, to assume that it is the wrong sentence is just in itself short sighted.
The purpose of jail should be to keep people who are likely to commit more crimes off the street so they cannot commit more crimes. It's unlikely that either of these kids are going to do anything like this ever again. To put them in jail for 15 years as punishment anyways is just an idiotic concept. It doesn't bring Grainey's life back and it places two non dangerous minors in prison, ruins their lives and puts a huge drain on tax payers and eventually society when they are released. This is factual, but you think that it makes our justice system suck.
No, it was a proper punishment and honestly one that should be taken into consideration more often.
Oh and I know that a lot of people are going to respond to this and call me a bunch of names and say I am stupid etc. Save it, I know too many under educated people like to jump up and assume that just about every crime should be punishable by jail time as if that solves anything. All you'll have to respond to with is insults and I don't have time for that nonsense.

What purpose would a long jail sentence serve?
Don't get me wrong, the kids were horrible and I wanted to slap the smirk right off of Ethan's face at the end.
But do they pose a threat to society? (Ethan maybe, but I think the other kid no).
If anything I think that they needed some serious mental health intervention, especially Ethan. I feel like they deserve a punishment, but jail doesn't seem like the right answer to me.
I think that they definitely deserved a longer probationary period, and also should have had their access to things like computers/cameras/internet restricted or removed entirely for at least 5 years. A fitting punishment for Ethan would be to remove any chance of being in the spotlight, but unfortunately such a punishment would infringe on his first amendment rights.

Unfortunately. Some people are in long jail sentences for much less than what was displayed here too. Sad.

100% agree! I was so pissed when I finished this movie.