Juveniles Should Not Be Tried As Adults

Young People Who Commit Violent Crimes Should Not Be Tried as Adults
Introduction
Cameron Williams is a young adult who went to prison when he was only 16. His life in prison was far removed from that of other teenagers. The young man, now 22, faces a 110 years sentence for second-degree attempted murder. He is also charged with using a weapon in committing an offence. Another 11-year old boy was arrested for shooting an 8-year old girl using his father’s shot gun in Tennessee. He may also be charged as an adult. These are only two of the numerous cases where children below 18 are charged as adults in the United States. There is currently a heated debate on the issue with some supporting the court decisions while others oppose it. Instead of

The first juvenile court was established in Crook County, Illinois in 1899. Other states followed suit thereafter. In 1925, 48 states in America had at least one juvenile court. However, there was no real change in the justice system until the 1970s (Mays & Houghtalin, 1993). The United States Supreme Court declared that juvenile courts should be given similar chances like the adult courts. It was decided that these courts should also follow the judicial standards that support truth beyond reasonable doubt. Today, juveniles can be legally tried as adults. It is believed by most people that minors have the chance to get back to the society and live normal lives if they are rehabilitated (Steinberg & Piquero, 2009). The problem that exists with trying juveniles as adults is that these young people lose their chances at normal lives when they mature. When people are still young, rash and unreasonable decisions are very common. Teenage is a time of vigor and activity. Many people are just beginning to experience and experiment with life. When one is still young, they may only act and think as young people. Consider the case of the 11-year old who was arrested for shooting a girl for refusing

Children act without thinking about the consequences of their actions while most adults think before they act. If the young boy is sent to jail for the rest of his life, he will live a hateful and depressed life. If he is sent to a rehabilitation center, he will be given an opportunity to learn about how to control his emotions and to grow in an environment where he can be taught the appropriate behaviors. As a result, he may grow into a responsible young man who respects the law (Levin, 2009). In the case of violent crimes that involve guns, the main focus of the legislators should be where and how the child got a gun rather than why the child used the gun. If a child is left in a room with a burning candle, it is highly probable that the child will either burn him or herself, or burn the house. This can happen even if the child has been warned in the past that fire burns things. Similarly, if parents do not secure their guns and store them away from the reach of children, they will most definitely take the guns and experiment with them. According trials that are meant for adults to children will not kill the curiosity of children (Grimes,