Should Juveniless Be Tried As Adults?

Whether or not we should try juveniles as adults has always been a controversial issue. First of all, “juveniles” are children who fall under the age of 18. However, the legal age varies within certain states across the USA. Despite the age difference, some juveniles are still tried as adults. Does convicting a juvenile as an adult, turn out to be a better problem-solver, and how is this affecting the deterrence of crime?

There are many controversies that surround juveniles being rehabilitated rather than going through the adult justice system, but studies show that juveniles are not fully developed to be tried as an adult. One of the main questions that it always boils down to is “should juveniles be tried as adults?” in my opinion juveniles should not be tried as adults because of their age.

There are times juveniles should not be convicted as adults because sometimes the “crimes” may not harsh enough to be charged as an adult. For example, if a 8 year old saw a gun in their mother's purse and thought it was a toy and grabbed it and began to shoot who would be at fault ? Plus children in adult prisons are 10 times more likely to be taken advantage of in their time. Research shows that children prosecuted in the adult criminal justice system are more likely to reoffend than those held in the juvenile justice

Juveniles should be charged as adults in cases of extreme crimes, such as first-degree murder and rape. This is so that Justice can be delivered, the punishment can be proportionate the crime(s), it acts as a deterrent against future crimes

Juveniles should be tried as adults because they only serve a few years in prison for doing harsh things. Manuel Sanchez and John Duncan committed a bloody murder by shooting a man several times in the chest, and John and Manuel were only twelve years old at the time. For example, “ It was a brutal, callous, bloody murder. But what is even more shocking to people in the small Washington town of Wenatchee is that John Duncan and Manuel Sanchez are only twelve years old.” I found this information in the article “ Rethinking Juvenile Justice” ( John, 1). Instead of the boys

When a person is charged with a crime, many people don't think that the age of said person is important because in their minds a criminal should be charged according to the law and not according to his or age. I believe that juveniles should not be tried as adults because trying them as adults affects them in ways that it does more harm than good for them and their community. The first effect of juveniles being tried as adults is that it “alters the legal process by which a

Juveniles by definition are not yet adults. They are incapable to speak in their own defense because studies have determined the emotional and psychological immaturity of juveniles makes them unable to speak in their own defense (McArthur 69). They have lawyers that speak for them and are appointed or hired to defend them. Children are less likely to control their impulses to guide their behavior than adults. They are still at the point of “growing up” (Human 77).

It is being argued if youths should be charged as adults throughout a heinous crime. It is said that kids brain development hasn’t fully grown to it’s full potential such as adults and by that they don’t know from right and wrong. Also, another argument brought up was the age of teens being prosecuted in adult courts. But if you do the crime, shouldn’t you do the time? From my point of view, teens should be prosecuted in the adult justice system.

Juveniles are not prepared mentally for adult court. There brains are not fully matured to understand everything about an adult case. In an article about juveniles being tried as adults in criminal court emphasized that juveniles are significantly different from adults(Eberhardt).Juveniles have to finish living their young lives and learn life lessons before they should be tried as adults. Before the justice system tries them as adults, they should be given the proper knowledge about life and things such as the justice system. In another article about juveniles being tried as adults, it spoke about how Americans have accepted that juveniles are different from adults (Okonkwo). Well, if juveniles are different from adults why are the justice systems across America trying them as adults in criminal court. It just doesn't make any sense. Everyday the justice system is takes advantage of juveniles by trying them as adults in criminal court.It is a shame because it is obvious that juveniles are not ready for for an adult court. They are not mature enough, they deserve a chance at learning about every element of the justice system that could possibly affect their lives. It is mandatory that the country takes action and solve this crisis because it is killing the future of

To Be An Adult Depending on factors of the offense, age and past criminal history, some juvenile offenders should be tried as adults – if not to be placed in jail, to receive the help that they desperately need. There’s already a system in place, but ultimately it all comes down to the judge and the jury. Of course it’d make life simpler if we were to just throw them aside and send them off to where they can no longer do us any harm, but even though it sounds like the very best idea for our own self-preservation; it doesn’t help them, in fact it only hinders. Life is far too short, and if we choose to give up on our nation’s youth because of their misdeeds at such a young age then what hope should we have for their generation and the future of this country? None, because we have set them all up for failure.

One juvenile justice author, Gail Garinger agrees that minors don't deserve on life sentences,cannot be treated in an adult- Justice system, and their minds aren't fully developed compared to an adult’s. Garinger importantly states that “Young people are biologically different from adults. Brain imaging studies reveal that the regions of the adolescent brain responsible for controlling thoughts, actions and emotions are not fully developed.” I agree on Garinger’s statement on comparing a minor’s brain to an adult’s. Due to a minor’s immaturity and lack of irresponsibility are one of the major factors that lead minors to commit terrible mistakes. Thier brain is still in process of development until they reach adulthood which also proven by science. Garinger also states they are, “less mature, more vulnerable to peer pressure, cannot escape from dangerous environments and their characters are still in formation.” The environment plays a huge role on how the minor’s behavior and thoughts can lead to the choices they

as young as thirteen are sentenced as juveniles to life in prison without parole. Americans today

The study says that states chose to reconsider the minimum age for juveniles to be tried as adults because of their young defendants' capability. Studies show that the area of the brain we use to make decisions and understand right from wrong, the prefrontal cortex isn't fully formed until around the age of 23. Ultimately it's controversial that some of us don't fully have a conscience. And can be caused by individuals with a history of drug use, depression, or abuse from within their living environments. The Juveniles that know right from wrong, should be held responsible and face consequences when they violate the law and commit a crime. The question remains whether the way we respond to a juvenile ,who commits a serious crime should differ from how we respond when the same crime is committed by an adult. On a final note, I think a solution to helping prevent juvenile crimes would be changing the social environment in how juveniles live is a more effective way to reduce violence than punishing juvenile offenders in adult

Imagine sitting in a courtroom, hoping the the judge will not give a harsh sentence. Unfortunately, that’s the case for many juveniles, some as young as 13! A juvenile is subject to a more severe sentence with the limited sentencing available. It is estimated that 250,000 youth are prosecuted as adults, each year. This number should change, as juveniles are not adults, both mentally and physically. Juveniles need an environment surrounded with guiding adults, education and the resources to help them. A juvenile is not an adult, and should not be tried as one.

In my own opinion, I consider juveniles as immature because they lack the ability to recognize the long term impact of their actions as they have decreased levels of responsibility. Therefore, the justice system should not charge juveniles in adult legal system and sentence them as adults.Trying juveniles as adults exposes the young offenders to state penitentiaries up to life in prison without parole and even sentenced to death. This raises a question on how truly effective treating juveniles as adults are to the young offenders. As the crimes committed by juveniles increase, there has been an outcry from the public and affected to prosecute juveniles accused of serious crimes as adults. It is true that juveniles do