Juveniles Should Be Tried As Adults
Kids are not adults. It has been debated over the years whether the juvenile system should be left with only one judicial system where the same rules apply to both adults and juveniles remaining. Children have been tried as adults without any consideration of their age or crime committed. Only after their teenage years does a child realize important concepts and rules society expects. Research shows that the prosecution of juveniles as adults does not help reduce crime and can affect some psychologically as well.
About 250,000 juvenile youth are prosecuted as adults annually. On most occasions the child who committed the crime, were under age. It is understood and proven that it is impossible that at an early age child has the mental capability that of adults. Juvenile courts are needed because kids cannot be tried the same way adults do. At such an adolescent age when they have no maturity and no responsibilities, them understanding the consequences is not expected of them. For this reason, it is considered unjustified to convict them in the same manner as adults. …show more content…
It is much more challenging to care for mental health disorders in young people than in adults.
According to recent studies examining the mental health of transferred youth, 66% of youth processed in adult criminal court had at least one psychiatric disorder and 43% had two or more types of disorders. Youth transferred to adult prison when compared to those who have received a less serious sentence, have a greater chance of having a substance use disorder, as well as disruptive behavior disorders. After they have been released, juveniles with psychological illnesses place challenges for the juvenile justice system. According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, approximately 70 percent of the 2 million adolescents and kids arrested each year in the United States have a mental health
disorder.
When kids as young as 9 or 11 years old commit a crime, they do not necessarily grow up to become criminals. Although, when they are punished in the same way adults do, the odds of this could somehow change. It has been studied that juveniles tried as adults are more likely to commit more crimes when released. There are many reasons why this occurs including their educational chances and chance for employment get worse. The shame that they feel might lead them not being able to fit in society and may cause for repeated crimes committed.
Recently, two large-scale studies show that adolescents who are given stronger penalties when tried as adults aren’t “scared straight”. Researcher Donna Bishop found that juveniles tried as adults were more likely to be imprisoned. They were also more likely to have a longer sentence than those who remained in the juvenile system. Bishop also found that adolescents moved to the criminal system were not less likely to reoffend. After the juveniles release, there is a greater chance for them to reoffend more often or earlier than those treated in the juvenile system.
About 250,000 juvenile youth are prosecuted as adults annually. On most occasions the child who committed the crime, were under age. It is understood and proven that it is impossible that at an early age child has the mental capability that of adults. Juvenile courts are needed because kids cannot be tried the same way adults do. At such an adolescent age when they have no maturity and no responsibilities, them understanding the consequences is not expected of them. For this reason, it is considered unjustified to convict them in the same manner as adults. …show more content…
It is much more challenging to care for mental health disorders in young people than in adults.
According to recent studies examining the mental health of transferred youth, 66% of youth processed in adult criminal court had at least one psychiatric disorder and 43% had two or more types of disorders. Youth transferred to adult prison when compared to those who have received a less serious sentence, have a greater chance of having a substance use disorder, as well as disruptive behavior disorders. After they have been released, juveniles with psychological illnesses place challenges for the juvenile justice system. According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, approximately 70 percent of the 2 million adolescents and kids arrested each year in the United States have a mental health
disorder.
When kids as young as 9 or 11 years old commit a crime, they do not necessarily grow up to become criminals. Although, when they are punished in the same way adults do, the odds of this could somehow change. It has been studied that juveniles tried as adults are more likely to commit more crimes when released. There are many reasons why this occurs including their educational chances and chance for employment get worse. The shame that they feel might lead them not being able to fit in society and may cause for repeated crimes committed.
Recently, two large-scale studies show that adolescents who are given stronger penalties when tried as adults aren’t “scared straight”. Researcher Donna Bishop found that juveniles tried as adults were more likely to be imprisoned. They were also more likely to have a longer sentence than those who remained in the juvenile system. Bishop also found that adolescents moved to the criminal system were not less likely to reoffend. After the juveniles release, there is a greater chance for them to reoffend more often or earlier than those treated in the juvenile system.