Why do you think teenagers should be treated like adults when they commit serious crimes?

Question

Why do you think teenagers should be treated like adults when they commit serious crimes?

Answer 1

Like adults don't commit serious crimes?

But yeah, a lot of teenagers are immature and immoral.

Answer 2

if you commit an adult crime than you should do adult time. it is as simple as that. If older children knew that they could literally get away with murder because they were kids and "Didn't know any better" IMO the murder rate would skyrocket. Teens need to know that there is a chance that any crime they commit could potentially be charged as an adult with adult punishment. it gives them a reason to think twice about what they are doing.

My son is 12 and has developmental delays. He has a tendency to violent rages when provoked. He has gouged me with his fingernails and left a 3x4 inch bruise on my chest during different rages...even he knows that if we get too fed up he will "go to jail". He came within a minute or 2 of having the sheriff called on him last week over something stupid that he attacked me for.

Answer 3

because there were a couple cases that involved minors commiting crimes. the minors got away with it and kept commiting crimes, so the law decided to create a law that allows minors to testify on court

Answer 4

If they make adult decisions, they should be sentenced as adults.

Answer 5

Adults commit serious crimes too. I think some teenagers are mature enough to be treated as adults.

Answer 6

Teenagers should not be able to be punished as adults when there is no way for them to be treated as adults for anything else (driving, voting, working, etc.).

When you shoot someone in the face you're a mature, reasonable adult who knew the consequences and thus should be executed.

When you walk up to the poll to vote you're a blithering idiot and if we listened to your opinion for eight seconds in a row you would ruin the country.

Does this sound fair to anyone? Really?

Answer 7

That would depend on the age of the teenager. A 13 yr old is not as mentally able to understand as a 17 yr old is.

A 17 yr old that robs a bank knows what he/she is doing

A 13 yr old was likely put up to it by someone older.

Answer 8

This question is a clear case of "leading the witness". In other words, a fake question.

I DO NOT think teenagers should be treated like adults when they commit serious crimes, otherwise, why do you have different laws for kids and adults???

You can 't have laws that say: you're too young to vote and drive a car and see p**n, but if you kill someone, we gonna kill you.

It's perverse to NOT give kids rights, but expect them to take all the responsibility.

So, wait, you can send kids to die in Iraq, but they can't even buy a beer? What kinda stupid system is that?

Answer 9

To make them realize early on that there is going to be consequences for stupid behavior. That life is not going to be a slap on the wrist, a small fine, and that is that until the next time.

Answer 10

Teenagers have the ability to reason and therefore any heinous act should bring the harshest punishment possible. It should not matter whether you are 25, 80 or 14.

Answer 11

NO! the hormone levels makes it so that they connot always tell the difference of right from wrong. they dont realize the reprocutions of their actions like adults can. they shouldnt be punished extra for something they couldnt control as much as adults can

Answer 12

My friend's 16 year old daughter was shot and killed by a 15 year old jerk that stuck a rifle out his bedroom window and fired at her walking down the street. He said he just wanted to feel the power of killing someone. He snuffed out her whole life, her future, the grandchildren they may have had. What a jerk. he got out at 21 and is a free man.

That is why.

Answer 13

Careful now...not all teens are like that; there are some adults who commit horrible crimes too. I think that people who want to be treated like adults need to proove that they are ready and mature enough...this means not running off doing whatever they want, working (or helping out), and being responsible.

If people act like a bunch of goons and never work for themselves and have other people doing things for them all of the time, I don't consider them adults.

Answer 14

If they just get a slap on the wrist, they WILL MOSTLY LIKELY do it again. Someone needs to make believers out of them before they get out of hand!

Answer 15

Because just like adults, they knew exactly what they were doing when they decided to commit the crime. They made a choice. So if they were grown up to do the wrong thing, they are grown up enough to take responsibility for their actions like and adult.

Answer 16

Treating them as adults would mean make them take responsability for their crime (whatever that is). By doing so, the teenager will learn and become more responsable

Answer 17

Because the punishment should fit the crime.  Punishments available to juvenile offenders (juvenile detention or incarceration until the age of 18 or 25) are often not severe or long enough for serious crimes.  Also, punishments for similar crimes should be equitable.  For example, if a 17 year old and an 18 year old commit an armed robbery together, they should not receive different sentences just because one of them is still a minor.

Answer 18

Uhm;;

because they are SERIOUS crimes?!!

Answer 19

well thats the judges choice...if the child understands what he/she did was wrong..then he/she is tried as an adult

Answer 20

Cause adults commit serious crimes as well? Dunno, is this a rhetorical question?

Answer 21

a crime is a crime thats the fact. when you get to the age of like 8 to 10 you know right and wrong or at least i did. you know that killing someone is wrong, stealing is wrong, drugs a wrong you learn all this, so if you choose to break the law well then you pay the price. just my opinion.