Criminal Question?

Question

Should a child be held accountable for criminal actions of their parents??

I'll give more details once i have gotten a couple more responses, sorry. . .

Ok so now I'l get to my point. This has to do with illegal immigration, most people don't understand that a lot of teenagers that were brought here illegaly when they were infants, have nothing to do with the crime. They grow up just like any other American citizen, yet they are denied the American dream, they want to go to college, drive, travel and enjoy life, but they can't because of their parent's mistakes.
How is this fair I ask???

Stiggo, How does that make sense?? If a parent takes their child to private property (here in the US) and they are caught, isn't the parent responsible, doesn't the child just get to go, scott free??

Answer 1

Why?

You hold me responsible for asking this question?

If a criminal commits a crime then it is their responsibility, no matter what their motive is, even if it was to help someone else. The person that was helped could have asked, or even forced the criminal to commit the act, but the criminal always has the freedom to NOT commit the criminal act. This right and act of freedom will always be there.

When Patty Hearst was kidnapped and brainwashed by a cult she assisted them in a bank robbery. She claimed that the gun wasn't loaded and that she was forced into the act, but the court still found her guilty. She had the choice to not do the deed, and that meant she was guilty because she did the crime.

The parents are accountable for the crime they commit; even if they commit the crime to help the child.

Now, I am confused how the child should be held accountable for the crime of the parent. The child has little to no control over the parent. How can you hold them responsible for what the parent does.

Now there are situations where the child is held responsible for the crimes or at least the attitudes of the parent. When the parents are Nazis and teach hate to the child then they can be held responsible for hate acts that their child commits. This is hard to prove, and the child will always bear some of the fault, but a criminal action can be conducted downstream in this fashion. However, it cannot be conducted upstream.

Answer 2

I would have to say that regardless of the crime, absolutely not. A child is just that a child. Not fully grown and still developing a sense of self. A parent on the other hand is an adult (presumably) and in full control of their faculties (again, presumably). The actions of a child are not those based on knowledge garnished from life experiences and education, but from the environment from which that child comes from, so again, NO.

Answer 3

Children, as a matter of law, are not liable for any actions of their parents. Children owe no duty to other people to control the actions of their parents, nor should they be expected to. That is only civil accountability. Criminal responsibility of children for their parents actions is even more absurd. Parents aren't even subject to criminal liability for the actions of their children. This is the most absurd question that I have ever heard. I think you should put more details on here, otherwise, the answer to your question is absolutely not under any feasible circumstances.

Answer 4

No, and they wont be if the child had absolutely nothing to do with the criminal actions

Answer 5

I can't think of any situations where this has been an issue, except in third world countries.

Ok, good point, I hadn't thought about anchor babies. that is a tough one.

Answer 6

No. Why do you ask? I'm curious if there's an example or a reason why you would ask this question when the answer is obvious.