First off, teens need to learn responsibility. Professor Ryan Handal from Yale University says that 96% of teens ages 13-21 have problems with responsibility. As a teenager myself, I realize this. Making teens take responsibility over the payment of their decisions will help teens to learn in the future.
Secondly, teens need to learn how to obey law. When the constitution was written, certain rules were written and a many have been added since then. Being an American citizen, we are required to abide by those laws. If we don't make them obey laws like vandalism, how can we expect teens to obey different laws in the future?
Once we get teens to realize that laws need to be followed, we need to show them consequences that result when they aren’t. If there are no consequences for wrongdoing, what will make the wrongdoing cease? If a young teen boy graffiti’s a wall and gets caught and yet nothing is done in consequence, why wouldn’t he do it again? The consequence of paying for the damages would prevent a lot of vandalism in the future.
In conclusion, yes, The Florida Legislature should make teens pay for damages they cause by vandalism. It will teach them responsibility, compliance to laws, and the consequences that come with disobedience to these laws. Without consequences, there would be no reason not to continue in this