Juvenile Punishment

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. The juvenile justice system was intended to rehabilitate offenders that committed non-serious crimes. Juveniles of today seem to take advantage of this system by committing violent crimes. Juveniles think they might get off easier because they believe they will be tried as juveniles no matter the seriousness of the crime. In the past years there have been laws to protect juvenile delinquents from being prosecuted as adults. There was a rising violent crime rate for juvenile offenders in the late 1980’s and 1990. To reduce the violent crime courts transferred their violent juvenile offenders to more strict adult courts. During the mid-1990’s many states adopted laws so that it would make it easier to try juveniles in adult courts (Juvenile Justice). There are many crimes that a juvenile can commit that are severe and violent enough for them to be tried in adult courts. Children as young as 13 or 14 are committing violent crimes such as murder, rape, and armed robbery. Some of these children are being tried as adults while others are being tried as juveniles and receiving milder punishments. A juvenile offender may receive a few years in a juvenile detention facility and possibly probation following his release at age eighteen. An adult committing the same violent crime will receive a much harsher penalty, often years in jail, possibly a life sentence, with little or no chance of parole. The only difference between the two offenders is