how young is to young?

Question

to charge a child for rape, or murder or organized crimes in a gang
children car jacking mothers cars, raping the mom in front of her children, killings, home invasions, are being done by 12 year olds and up, why let them hide behind the "not an adult thing" any longer. it could be you, your mom, your dad, your sister, your brother, your boyfriend, your girlfriend who is raped and or killed by these younger people ..why let them get a way with murder
so what age is too young?

Answer 1

If you do the crime , you do the time

Answer 2

There are considerations about mental development that have to factor into how you determine the gravity of a crime. Until a child reaches 16, the logical centers in the brain are undefined, and most decision making takes place in the emotional centers. This is one reason children exhibit less self-control than adults.

That is not to say that you can't charge a 12 year old as an adult, but every case should be considered on its merits. Some 12 year olds for various reasons have a better understanding of right and wrong than do others of the same age. It is a very difficult decision, and setting an arbitrary age is probably not appropriate.

Answer 3

In most cases, the severity of the crime is taken into account when charging the child. Many murders under the age of 18 are charged and sentenced as adults.

Answer 4

Thats a good question, but tough to answer. I think it really has to go on a case by case basis. Other factors have to be taken into consideration along with the age. What kind of environment was the child raised in, was he/she scared, hungry, desperate? Or was the child a jaded wealthy spoiled kid who killed just to see what it was like? Was it revenge? For instance, I might be less inclined to convict an abused, frightened 16 year old who hijacked a car to get away, but might be more inclined to convict a healthy, well cared for but spoiled 12 yr old child who did the same thing out of boredom. It has to be a case by case basis.

Answer 5

The strength of the "they're not an adult" defense is inversely proportional to the severity of the crime, in general. Most laws regarding the age of the criminal defendant are flexible enough that they don't set vicious criminals free, no matter what age, nor do they send twelve-year-olds to adult prison for misdemeanors. Of course the system doesn't always work, but no system is perfect.

Answer 6

people who are young may know right from wrong in basic terms,
but their moral reasoning is more concerned with public/social opinion than anything else (this is researched and proven via psyc and kohlberg). they know things are wrong, but think being socially accepting negates that. and when people get older we think that morality can negate man-made laws (IE stealing medicine you can't afford so your sick family member doesn't die)


and until people are about 18-20 the inpulse centers of the brain aren't developed all the way and they are more prone to act first and think later. this gets them in to more trouble, you know first they steal a candy bar than they assult the person who tried to stop them. They don't think in that moment that petty theft is a slap on the wrist (hell they may not even have charges brought against them) and instead they impulsivly attack.

not to mention the fact that juvinile offenders put in jail with adults become hardened criminals and repeat offenders (research based)

Answer 7

I think think all adults can say that there is something in there childhood that they regret doing. children under 12 should never be charged as an adult but when they turn 13 it should depend on there personalities.

Answer 8

The question I ask myself is why this happens.?(only in America) a 12 year old cannot be held responsible for their actions.! Their mind is not developed but polluted..pollutes by the environment they were brought up in! I love America but we don't always like looking at ourselves in the mirror!

Answer 9

i don't think it is right. i think if children commit crimes they should be punished for them. why should murder be lessened by the fact that it was commited by a child? does age suddenly lessen the significance of death?