it’s clear that the kid has some major issues that aren’t going to be solved by a few years of prison time
Correct. Imprisonment of a 17yo with mental health issues is guaranteed to make things worse. He needs psychiatric treatment and behavioral therapy, not caging, to become able to properly function in civilized society.
Prison life will only reinforce his violent impulses, making SURE that he’s fucked up for life.
I can’t imagine this doesn’t make him even worse. He needs to be hospitalized, otherwise in 5 years we’ll probably see his name in the news again.