Essay: Should Children Be Tried As Adults

618 Words2 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: The effects of youth crime

In the last couple of decades, there has been a steady rise in crimes committed by children. From crimes such as theft to the more serious ones like murder. With crimes happening at such an early stage in life, a big controversial topic rises which has drawn many people's’ attention. Should children be tried as adults? There are obviously differences between the justice system for children compared to the justice system for adults with the children’s justice system having more of a therapeutic angle while the justice system for adults is more punitive. However, there has been children at the age of eleven being sentenced to years in a prison facility for adults. Even though they committed the worst of the crimes, can it be justified to “end” someone’s life for something they did when they were just a child?
Children are not mature enough to make responsible and well-processed decisions. They are not allowed to drink, drive and any legal contract they sign would be considered invalid. It just comes to show that society has decided that a child’s maturity level are not equivalent to an adult. Research claims that “ Children lack the prefrontal cortex, the lobe of the brain that helps with reasoning and judgment.” So why …show more content…

The newspaper “ Washington Post” did some further research on this topic and they stated that” Not only does throwing a kid in detention often reduce the chance that he or she will graduate high school, but it also raises the chance that the youth will commit more crimes later on in life.” There are many success stories out there today about people breaking the law as a child and ending up as someone that is helping society. There will always be criminals in this world and some of them start out earlier, don’t send someone to prison because you assume they are going to end up as a criminal. Every child deserves a chance in life and sending them to prison is not the way to do

Show More
Related

  • Juveniles Don 't Deserve Life Sentence

    1136 Words  | 3 Pages

    Heinous crimes are considered brutal and common among adults who commit these crimes, but among children with a young age, it is something that is now being counted for an adult trial and punishable with life sentencing. Although some people agree with this decision being made by judges, It is my foremost belief that juveniles don’t deserve to be given life sentencing without being given a chance at rehabilitation. If this goes on there’s no point in even having a juvenile system if children are not being rehabilitated and just being sent off to prison for the rest of their lives and having no chance getting an education or future. Gail Garinger’s article “ juveniles Don’t deserve Life sentence”, written March 14, 2012 and published by New york Times, mentions that “ Nationwide, 79 adolescents have been sentenced to die in prison-a sentence not imposed on children anywhere else in the world. These children were told that they could never change and that no one cared what became of them. They were denied access to education and rehabilitation programs and left without help or hope”. I myself know what it’s like to be in a situation like that, and i also know that people are capable of changing even children when they are young and still growing.

    Read More

  • Persuasive Essay On Children In Prison

    1993 Words  | 4 Pages

    There are millions of adults in federal prison, but The United States is the only country in the world that condemns children to die in prison (Pequeneza, 2014). It’s sad to think about children being sentenced to life in prison, and frankly it is a disturbing and a scary fact to face. However, in recent years the U.S Supreme Court has made it illegal to charge juveniles with life sentencing for anything less than murder (Pequeneza, 2014). This new law gives children a second chance at life when they are finally released from prison. Many children are forced to be in a household that is not suitable for a developing child. Children are mistreated, neglected, abused, and other factors. These unfit situations that children are in make them more likely to become violent, and maybe end up in juvenile

    Read More

  • A Look at the Conflicts of the Juvinile Court System in “No Matter How Loud I Shout” by Edward Humes

    1392 Words  | 3 Pages

    Many people say that the systems first priority should be to protect the public from the juvenile criminals that are a danger to others. Once the juveniles enter the system there is however, arguments on what should be done with them. Especially for those deemed too dangerous to be released back to their parents. Some want them locked away for as long as possible without rehabilitation, thinking that it will halt their criminal actions. One way to do this they argue would be to send them into an adult court. This has been a large way to reform the juvenile system, by lowering the age limits. I believe in certain cases this is the best method for unforgiving juveniles convicted of murder, as in the case of Ronald Duncan, who got away with a much lesser sentence due to his age. However another juvenile, Geri Vance, was old enough to be sent into the adult court, which caused him t...

    Read More

  • Should Juveniles Be Tried As Adults?

    1226 Words  | 3 Pages

    According to the article of “Should Juveniles Be Tried as Adults?” at Buzzle.com, “It is a proven fact that when a child is at the age around nine or ten that they do not have the mental accessibility to think as an adult” (Borkar). Citizens see this statistic as a reason as to why children should not be tried as adults. “Children are five times more likely to be sexually assaulted in adult prisons than in juvenile facilities” (Equal Justice Initiative). These juveniles are subject to much harsher punishments which includes life sentencing (Michon). These people do not feel that these children should be in a prison for the rest of their life for something they did when they were 13. Broken families can be a reason for a child to rebel and become trouble. “Psychology speaking, it is said that there are no ‘problem children’ but only ‘problem parents’” (Borkar). Parents roles are to guide their kids in the right way. Children will not know what is right or wrong if parents do n...

    Read More

  • The Consequences Of Juvenile Crimes

    1249 Words  | 3 Pages

    Their brains develop in different stages and they learn skills that they need to learn at certain time. In the article “Juveniles Don’t Deserve Life Sentences”, by Garinger, she argues that juveniles should not be treated as adults if they commit horrible crimes. Garinger states that juveniles should not be sentenced to life in prison without parole. She states that the court is considering life in prison without parole for juveniles who commit capital crimes. Garinger says that juveniles are immature, and still developing, so they can not be held to the same standards as adults. The writer add that as a juvenile court judge, she has seen how that juveniles can change and may become rehabilitated. For example, the court has already struck down death penalty and the life in prison without parole for juveniles or for young offenders convicted of non-homicide. According to the article, “Juveniles Don’t Deserve Life In Prison,” Paul Garinger states that “Brain imaging studies reveal that the regions of the adolescent brain are responsible for controlling thoughts, actions, and emotions are not fully developed. They can not be held to the same standards when they commit terrible crimes.” If this is true, there is no a reason to treat juveniles as

    Read More

  • How Should Juvenile Offenders Be Punished?

    523 Words  | 2 Pages

    Children commit adult crimes. The problem is how do we punish them? Should they be treated in juvenile facilities, or punished with adult criminals? In some states, you are considered to be an adult at 17 years old, therefore, as criminals get placed “in adult prisons for more sophisticated training in violent crimes and victimization.”(Pg. 637)

    Read More

  • Should Juveniles Be Responsible For Their Actions: Juveniless And The Death Penalty

    718 Words  | 2 Pages

    Do you think juveniles should be held responsible for their actions? For many years, children have been sentenced to death without trial. Young people are not capable of making rational decisions. Hence, children are restricted from doing many things. For instance, children under the age eighteen are not allowed by law to vote, and work for a certain number of hours. However, when it comes to sentencing children as adults to the death penalty, it is not illegal. If children are viewed differently from adults by law, then why is that not the case when being trialed? Moreover, children are not yet matured to receive such punishments. Likewise, juveniles should not be sentenced to death, because they are still

    Read More

  • Should Juveniles be Tried as Adults

    1492 Words  | 3 Pages

    Juveniles deserve to be tried the same as adults when they commit certain crimes. The justice systems of America are becoming completely unjust and easy to break through. Juvenile courts haven’t always been known to the everyday person.

    Read More

  • Should Children be Tried as Adults?

    2281 Words  | 5 Pages

    ...ommit a crime they know what they are doing they can comprehend the outcomes. Whereas a child whose brain isn't developed is ignorant to a lot in life, and until they reach that adult age then they should be treated as what they are.

    Read More

  • Juveniles Tried As Adults Essay

    294 Words  | 1 Pages

    With the current crime rates on the rise, the justice system is trying to reduce adult criminals by strictly prosecuting juvenile offenders as adults. Many people believe that in doing so will scare the criminals back on the straight path and help to lower the crime rate. Trying a juvenile as an adult will have no effect on reducing crimes, corrective behaviors, or a juvenile’s comprehension ability.

    Read More

  • Should Children Be Tried For Adult Crimes

    1122 Words  | 3 Pages

    Should Children Be Tried For Adult Crimes An estimated 250,000 children under the age of 18 are imprisoned as adults every year. On average, about 100,000 get put in adult jails. Shouldn’t a crime be charged as the same crime regardless the age of the person committing it? Children should be tried as adults for violent crimes because there should not be a lesser punishment for the same crime due to age, it would teach the child a lesson, and it would help prevent future crimes.

    Read More

  • How Should Children Be Tried As Children Should Be Tried As Adults

    576 Words  | 2 Pages

    Children should definitely be tried as an adult and punished as an adult for crimes, or otherwise, nothing is stopping them from doing it again. Being put in “Juvie” until you are eighteen because you violently killed someone as a fifteen year old is absolutely unacceptable and not near harsh enough of a punishment, The living conditions are better there than in some of their own homes! Nothing is stopping them from doing the same thing

    Read More

  • Juveniles Should Be Tried as Adults

    2004 Words  | 5 Pages

    Much controversy exists on the question of whether a juvenile criminal should be punished to the same extent as an adult. Those who commit capitol crimes, including adolescents, should be penalized according to the law. Age should not be a factor in the case of serious crimes. Many people claim that the child did not know any better, or that he was brought up with the conception that this behavior is acceptable. Although there is some truth to these allegations, the reality of this social issue is far more complex. Therefore we ask the question, "Should childhood offenders of capitols crimes be treated as adults?"

    Read More

  • Juvenile Criminals Should Not Be Tried as Adults

    1463 Words  | 3 Pages

    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.

    Read More

  • Juveniles Should Not Be Tried As Adults Essay

    943 Words  | 2 Pages

    Juvenile offenders should not be tried as adults because there are differences between a teenager and adult. A teenager is not mature as an adult. Some teenagers are capable to change their behavior and are capable to recognize their own mistakes. It is a huge mistake for juveniles offenders to be tried as adults and send them to adult court and prison . There are many factors why they should not be tried as adult.

    Read More

More about Essay: Should Children Be Tried As Adults

Open Document