Essays on Should Juveniles be Tried as Adults
The age-old debate of whether juveniles should be tried as adults has been ongoing for years and is still highly controversial today. On one hand, some argue that juvenile criminals are not mature enough to understand the consequences of their actions and therefore must be given a different level of accountability than an adult would receive. On the other hand, others believe that certain serious crimes warrant harsher penalties for minors in order to protect society from further harm. With both sides arguing compelling points, it can be difficult to determine exactly when juveniles should or shouldn’t be tried as adults. In general, many people agree that those under 18 who commit minor offenses such as shoplifting or vandalism should not face the same criminal charges as an adult. These individuals may need more guidance and assistance from rehabilitation programs rather than incarceration in order to help them develop better decision-making skills and learn how to avoid future conflicts with society’s laws. Additionally, they may benefit from counseling services which could address any underlying issues contributing to their delinquent behavior in the first place. However, there are also cases where trying a juvenile offender as an adult might be appropriate due to the severity of the crime committed or if they have already had several run-ins with law enforcement before committing this particular offense. When dealing with these situations specifically, it is important for judges and prosecutors alike to consider all relevant factors when making their decisions so that justice can be served fairly while still taking into account each individual’s unique circumstances and background information. Ultimately, determining whether or not juveniles should be tried as adults is ultimately up to each state’s legal system but no matter what happens during proceedings it is essential that everyone involved remembers that these young offenders deserve second chances too so long as they take responsibility for their actions and demonstrate potential for positive change in the future.
On May 26, 2000, thirteen-year-old, Nathaniel Brazill shot and killed his seventh grade, English teacher at Lake Worth Middle School with a handgun. As a result, he was tried as an adult and sentenced to a state prison for twenty eight years. Now, if a person were to hear a story like this, they would […]
Growing up everyone has friends of all social classes and behaviors. Many live wealthy lifestyles, and others not so fortunate. Many children loved going home after school and living the âLeave it to Beaverâ home life. Others had a home life that was sad and created angst. They literally had nothing to eat and no […]
One evening, Cyntoia Brown, a 16-year-old young woman, was solicited for sex as a victim of human trafficking. During this unfathomable experience, Cyntoia felt fearful that her abuser was going to killer her, so she shot him, which resulted in his death. She was tried as an adult and convicted to life in prison. Cyntoia, […]
In attempt to deter juveniles from committing deviant crimes, states in favor of juveniles charged as adults place firm laws similar to Californiaâs Proposition 21 . Let it be known that laws will not abate crime, but rather provide a means of punishment. However, questions regarding the appropriateness and severity of adult charges against youth […]
At 15 years old, most teens are in their second year of high school and dealing with the struggles of learning algebraic expressions or who theyâre bringing to the homecoming dance. The most important people in our life during that time include our family, school friends, and teachers who we see nearly every day. This […]
There are people that commit crimes from misdemeanors to murders. One problem that is up for debate is whether or not attempt teen criminals in person courts and sentence them to adult prisons. The main focus of these amenities is to rebuild juveniles, not in reality punish and imprison them. The hassle is that some […]
The United States law prohibits anyone under the age of 18 from cigarettes, beer, or voting in the U.S Presidential elections. In most states and the District of Columbia, individuals under 18 years of age are considered juveniles. In 1899, the first juvenile court was established in Cook County Chicago, Illinois (Hemmns, Brody, Spohn, 2016, […]
The separation between juveniles and adult offenders has existed for the last 100 years. In America and across the globe, the line distinguishing the two sets of offenders occurs within different jurisdictions with a wide range of legislation as justification. The American historical version of juvenile separation stems from the common law of England which […]
How would you feel if the police arrested kids all over our country to jail for just crossing the street the wrong way or pushing another kid on the playground? That is what is happening to many underage juvenile all over the United States; they are being sent to adult prisons for crimes that do […]
On February 12, 1993, James Patrick Bulger, 2, was abducted, tortured, and killed in Kirkby, Merseyside, England. He was led from a shopping center while his mother took her eyes from him for a moment. His body was found mutilated on a railway, two days after his abduction. The two suspects were two ten-year-old boys, […]
