Many people think different when it comes to treating teenagers once they commit a crime. Folks think that their brain is not fully developed, but they sure do know what they are doing. If teenagers have the capability to commit a crime, there must be something between that made them act the way they did. Many blame parents for their child’s actions because they think that the kids learn from parents. For example, bad behavior, drug abuse, rape, murder, etc., but teenagers should learn from their parents mistakes. Teenagers should not be charged differently, if they are in juvenile hall or jail because at the end they still committed a crime.
Many people blame the parents when their child’s commit a crime. “Moral are inherent from birth” (Wilde 1). Teenagers should learn from mistakes that they might see around, wether it comes from family members or others. There is no excuse to committing these crimes because in my behalf I know committing is an insane thought. All crimes should be treated in the same regard, whether they are teenagers or adults. A crime is a crime, when tee...
The article titled “ Juvenile Justice from Both Sides of the Bench”, published by PBS, and written by Janet Tobias and Michael Martin informs readers on numerous judges’ opinions on the juveniles being tried as adults. Judge Thomas Edwards believed that juveniles should not be tried as adults because they are still not mature enough to see the consequences of their actions and have a chance to minimize this behavior through rehabilitation programs. Judge LaDoris Cordell argues that although we shouldn’t give up on juveniles and instead help them be a part of society, however, she believes that some sophisticated teens that create horrible crimes should be tried as adults. Bridgett Jones claims that teens think differently than adults and still
It is expected that at a young age, children are taught the difference between what is right and what is wrong in all types of situations. The majority of Supreme Court Justices abolished mandatory life in prison for juveniles that commit heinous crimes, argued this with the consideration of age immaturity, impetuosity, and also negative family and home environments. These violent crimes can be defined as murder, rape, armed robbery, aggravated assault and the like depending on state law. With these monstrous acts in mind the supreme court justices argument could be proven otherwise through capability and accountability, the underdevelopment of the teenage brain and the severity of the crime. Juveniles commit heinous crimes just like adults
In the last 42 years little to no changes have been made to correct the standards that govern punitive measures towards juvenile delinquency. Today juvenile law is governed by state and many states have enacted a juvenile code. However, in numerous cases, juveniles are transferred to adult court when juvenile courts waive or relinquish jurisdiction. Adolescents should not be tried in the adult court system or sentenced to adult penitentiary's on account of: teen brains are not mature which causes a lack of understanding towards the system, incarceration in an adult facility increases juvenile crime, and children that are sentenced to adult prison are vulnerable to abuse and rape.
Although some would argue that juveniles undergo a series of brain development in which they lose brain cells that control their impulses, risk taking, and self-control (Thompson 46). However this lost during development does not excuse juvenile from their accountability, instead they should acquire special attention, proper nurturing and guidance during development in order to help them make better decisions. Thus teenagers accused of violent crimes should be tried and sentenced justly, regardless of age, to ensure the law's equality and educate juveniles regarding the potential severity of their actions' consequences. That is how we'll be able prevent future acts of violence and crimes from occurring in society.
Juveniles should not be tried as an adult because they lack maturity and they are not psychologically developed. The juvenile justice system is putting youth at a high risk of not doing anything for themselves. If they lack maturity, they should not be in an adult prison. If they are not psychologically developed, they should not be in an adult prison because they are still young. Youth that is being charged as an adult, are more likely to commit more crime, than someone who is in a juvenile detention. More than likely, juveniles will end up in gang and other crime activities because that was all they was taught in the adult prison.
As minors commit violent crimes without being held accountable, they can grow up to be real criminals and they can be very dangerous. Without a solid foundation of what is right and wrong, these minors will grow up believing that their actions are the norm. For this reason, minors need to be held accountable. They need to be taught that they cannot get away with their crimes. In 2007, courts with juvenile jurisdiction handled an estimated 1.7 million delinquency cases. Delinquency cases include vandalism, shoplifting, robbery, and murder. These are just some of the crimes minors can commit. This was up by forty-four percent from 1985. If a minor grows up believing that crime is acceptable, they will repeat the pattern. Without interrupting the pattern and making them accountable, these minors will always have a twisted sense of right and wrong. A sense of what is right and wrong is important and can be learned at any age. Minors learn very young, what...
That’s why we don’t permit 15-year-olds to drink, drive, vote or join the military” (qtd. in Billitteri). There is adolescent-development research according to Hambrick, J. and Ellem, J that has shown “children do not possess the same capacity as adults to think thru the consequences of their behaviors, control their responses or avoid peer pressure” (qtd. in Lyons). There are some very good points made in the argument against sentencing youth as adults but I still have a hard time agreeing with peer pressure or impulse control as a reason to be held in a juvenile center for less than a few years for murder. Ryan, L. uses the example of a report released by the Department of Justice’s Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention on “Juvenile Transfer Laws : An Effective Deterrent to Delinquency?” This report found that prosecuting youths as adults has little or no effect on juvenile crime.” She uses this information and backs it up with the report showing “youths prosecuted as adults are more likely to re-offend than youths handled in the juvenile justice system” (qtd. in Katel). This is definitely a new perspective, but I still stand with my first take on the subject. “We know young people can commit serious crimes, and the consequences are no less tragic” (qtd in
In the essays “On Punishment and Teen Killers” by Jennifer Jenkins and “Some Juvenile Killers Deserve Adult Justice” by Peter A. Weir, it is demonstrated that juveniles use excuses to minimize their punishment. In the essays “Startling Finds On Teenage Brains” by Paul Thompson and “Juveniles Should Be Tried as Adults in Certain Circumstances” by Mary Onelia Estudillo, it is expressed that juvenile delinquents should be held responsible for their
A average teen that commits a crime need rehabilitation not prison. In Paul Thompson's article “Startling Finds on Teenage Brains” He highlights that the average teen brain is not developed like like a adult brain so knowing that we should not be putting kids under 18 in adult prison. Teens dont know better they dont understand whats right from wrong . They need rehabilitation they don't need to be harassed. So i believe that teen should not be tried a adults in the court of law.
When a juvenile commits a crime they know they are not going to be punished as adults. No matter the age of the criminal, the crime was still committed and this does not lessen the suffering of the victim. No matter the age of the criminal, the crime was still committed and this does not lessen the suffering of the victim. Juveniles tried as adults gives credence to the viewpoint that crime is crime and age should not factor into the punishment. Many feel that punishments for harsher crimes should not be restricted by age. Trying juveniles as adults makes all crimes equal and allows for more justice and 18 are too old to be charged as
Different articles state different facts on why juveniles should stay in prison and others disagree because they feel that if they get released and put into rehabilitation, their lives will better for the future. For people that have never been to prison, it is hard in their perspective to understand how one suffers being locked up with no freedom and without having as many rights as any other man or woman have. If people had the chance to talk to former delinquents that now live a good lifestyle, there would be a chance that non-criminals would understand that people can change when they come out of prison. The juvenile justice system should put a satisfying sentence for juveniles and should keep punishing other delinquents in a matter that is not cruel and would be fair enough until they feel like they have learned their
Everyday we read in the newspaper or watch T.V and hear news of crimes committed by Juveniles. With all of the crime being reported by the media about juveniles, one can’t help but wonder if all of our nation’s youth are juvenile delinquents. Although there are many cases where the juvenile did not commit a serious crime, there are others where the crime is so bad the juvenile court system tries the juvenile as an adult. Instead of seeking help for the individual, our justice system places them in adult facilities to “teach them a lesson.” The justice system fails to see what the cause of this outbreak is in a child whether it was abuse, neglect, or where they grew up. The juvenile justice system needs to see that by simply teaching the juvenile a lesson, it does nothing to deter crime.
The United States has been affected by a number of crimes committed by juveniles. The juvenile crime rate has been increasing in recent years. Everyday more juveniles commit crimes for various reasons. They act as adults when they are not officially adults. There is a discussion about how juveniles should be punished if they commit heinous crimes. While many argue that juveniles who commit serious crimes, such as murder, should be treated as adults, the fact is, juveniles under the age of eighteen, are not adults, and should not be treated as such.
Today?s court system is left with many difficult decisions. One of the most controversial being whether to try juveniles as adults or not. With the number of children in adult prisons and jails rising rapidly, questions are being asked as to why children have been committing such heinous crimes and how will they be stopped. The fact of the matter is that it is not always the children's fault for their poor choices and actions; they are merely a victim of their environment or their parents. Another question asked is how young is too young. Children who are too young to see an R rated film unaccompanied are being sent to adult prisons. The only boundaries that seem to matter when it comes to being an adult are laws that restrain kids from things such as alcohol, pornography, and other materials seen as unethical. Children that are sent to adult prison are going to be subjected to even more unprincipled ideas and scenes. When children can be sent to jail for something as minor as a smash and grab burglary, the judicial system has errors. The laws that send juveniles to adult prisons are inhumane, immoral, and unjust. Kids are often incompetent, which leads to unfair trials. Adult prisons are also very dangerous for minors, and in many cases this leads to more juvenile crimes.
As a parent, I have spent a great deal of time observing the behavior, motivation, and thought processes of my children. As they mature these processes have changed, and it has been fascinating to watch. I have learned a great deal on the limits of self control in the adolescent mind during this time, and I believe that families should be held responsible for crimes committed by their teenagers.