Should Juveniles ,17 years of age and younger, be prosecuted and tried as Adults for crimes in the US?

Answer 1

It really does depend on the crime and the particular youth involved. Infancy, the legal term referring to minors under the age of 18 in most states, is considered a legal disability. A blanket rule calling for adult treatment of all 17 year old criminals would be dangerous. It's important to consider whether the minor offender was mature enough to have formed the intent required to commit a crime, whether he or she understood the nature and consequences of his or her act, and the nature and circumstances of the crime (was it heinous, premeditated, etc). With nothing more, it would be impossible to say that 17 year olds in general should be held accountable as adults.

Answer 2

I feel life in a civilized society is a privilege, not a right, and an individual can abuse that privilege and lose it. A 17 year old psychopath will not suddenly become "safe" when they turn 18. That being said, I do believe that juveniles can commit acts that they do not understand the consequences of, so I believe that the determination to try a juvenile as an adult should be left to the courts who can (hopefully) determine if the child is an incorrigible criminal or just made a stupid mistake.

Answer 3

I'd say it depends on the severity of their crime....and their mental condition of course. It really saddens me when I see that a 12 year old child has committed murder, or some other heinous crime.:( I really think it can't be something that is done just across the board with no regard to other considerations, but I think if they are mentally competent....and they honestly knew what they did was wrong and were able to comprehend the severity of their actions.....then yes... I think they should be tried as adults.

Answer 4

well they are not adults so they will not come under the adult catogary, but looking at cases, punishment should be as severe, depending on the crime, more and more youth are commiting crimes because most often they get away by being sent to remand homes where they are soon out ,henious crimes should be punished so that the youth think twice to get them selves involved in a criminal way of life,it does not mean because your a seventeen years old you can weild a gun or throw a bomb or peddle drugs and rape , this this is just as bad as an adult crime, if your old enough to commit a crime your old enough to be punished

Answer 5

under certain conditions yes. juvenile justice was intended for kids that made stupid mistake and so it is less severe that normal. for kids that choose to commit serious crimes as a life style or that are beyond what could be explained as a dumb mistake. treatment as a adult may be an option including life sentences and maybe even execution. there are kids that think because they are young they are in no danger of ever having to pay for their actions and because of this idea they commit serious crimes.

Answer 6

Last year, I watched a series called "Brat Camp" in which parents of out of control teens sent their kids to a special camp whose goal was to change their bad attitude. The camp specialized in breaking teens' drug habits, and their self-destructive tendencies.

In most cases, it worked very well. It seemed that the kids who got the least out of it could have benefitted by even more discipline and behavior modification.

It was really amazing to see the transformation of these kids. At the beginnning, they were totally self-involved and had a bigger attitude than J-Lo and Kanye West combined. At some point, after they had to endure the cold, lots of hiking, and being away from home, their attitudes started to change. They started taking responsibility for their problems and acknowledging them. They became less selfish and learned to cooperate and compromise.

Jail is just going to delay the inevitable. We need a lot of Brat Camps..... now.

Answer 7

It actually depends on the crime, but yeah sure. They have to know that if they did a very serious crime, like a murder, they should be prosecuted by the seriousness of it.

Answer 8

No. No child should be tried as adult. Thats just retarded, they are children, not adults. Strip them nude and you'll see a child's body, unmuscled, innocent. They're children.

Children shouldn't be going to prison, doesn't matter what they did, I don't care if they raped and killed someone, they shouldn't be going to jail. Mandatory therapy/counceling and community service is what I believe to be the best response to a juvenile.

Answer 9

Yes. If they are old enough to do the crime, they are old enough to suffer the consequences of it. And no matter what anyone says, someone that is 12 years old knows that murder is wrong, and that murder is forever.

Answer 10

i think it depends on what the juvenile did , like if they kill someone intentionaly and are straight up crazy then yeah