I think that kids under 18 being charged as adults is pure bulls#$t and highly unethical. Here is why.?

Question

Now first and foremost it's very hipricritical. It says that they're responsible enough for punishment but not resposible enough for privelge.
Ask some questions:
Legally
Can a minor buy cigarettes
Can a minor buy alcohol
Can a minor vote
Can a minor get a drivers license in all 50 states
Can a minor sign a contract without a parent
Can a minor get married w/o parental consent
Can a minor give sexual consent
Can a minor join the service
We all know that there's more but I think if kids can be charged as adults then they should get all the rights, freedoms and privileges as adults. It's only right or we charge them as juviniles because they are still kids and can be rehabilitated so they can be better adults.

I want honest feedback and thoughts...

I agree with many answers so far I never thought of it that way and your points are valid. However I think it must be on a case by case basis. But still I think many crimes that were referred to adult court should have stayed at juvinile court.

And as far as the colombine shooting the SHOOTERS were the REAL victims. They shot school bullies so I have NO simpathy for the shooting victims. The school and bullies are more to blame than the shooter.
(just my personal opinion)

I actually like the feedback I've been getting so far. It really make a lot of sense. A lot of smart people on here.

Justin H i gave you a thumbs up. I did'nt know that thanks for the info.

Answer 1

You posted a question like this 9 days ago. Except then you tacked on stuff about Paris Hilton. I repeat my answer to you. (And just like you this is my own opinion).

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=Ak4CBltF4GZnkzKwv7HY.orty6IX?qid=20070807004814AANrBqi&show=7#profile-info-IxRPo2Qhaa

We are seeing much more violent crime committed by teenagers.
*If a child of 12 or 14, raped your wife, mother sister, daughter etc it would be ok to treat them as a child?
*How about if they torture that female with items like bottles, sticks, umbrellas and such? (it DOES and HAS happened). Would it be ok then to treat them as a child?
*How about if they break into a home and viciously attack an elderly person? Beating him senseless before they set him on fire? It would be ok to treat them as a child?
*What if they take guns into school and start shooting people randomly? Killing some and leaving some paralyzed for life?Would it be ok to treat them as a child then?
These are a few examples of things that teenagers have done recently. Their crimes have destroyed lives. Their crimes have scarred people physically and emotionally for life. Their crimes have left children without parents. Their crimes have taken people away from loved ones.
While you think it is unethical to treat these teens as an adult, it is just as unethical to give them a slap on the wrist for the violent crimes they have committed.

*note not ALL kids who shoot people in schools are victims of bullying. Several have done it (or tried to) just because they want to copy Columbine.

Answer 2

Let me address the reform you made

I live in Colorado so know quite well the Columbine shottings you referred to. I am actually offended at your ignorance; it was not the bulies being killed. Many of the victims where just there, some were good kids who had done no wrong to the shooters. I will agree they were bulied, but doesnt every single school have bullies, hasnt near everyone been bullied or bullied- yes. What gave these kids the right to then kill innocent students.

Even if it was only the bullies they targeted lets say, bullying and murder are quite different crimes, no?

Before you try and feel no sympathy for the victims of Columbine School Massacre, do even monor research.

As for the topic- I agree that a 17 year old who rapes then murders a woman, pre-medittated, should be charged as a 19 year old would be. It is a very case-by-case issue.

As said above, the courts do not charge all minors as adults, it would simply be illegal and illogical.

Answer 3

Ok first of all we don't make the law. And it is right that persons under 18 must been kept responsible for hes\her doings and crime etc. There is a big deffirence between buyeing cigarettes and commit a crime you can't combine this with each other or buying alcohol. So what you say is if a person under 18 years old break into your home and stole something that is very valuable to you he\she must not be punnish for that ofcaurse thay must. You must first grow up and learn about surtand things in life befor using it or doing it.
It is nothing but fair. What is the idea of having a childhood then if you have this much stress on you. If the goverment let people start work under 18 years old no one then wants to go to school. Then how will you get education. And again persons under 18 years old must kept responsible for their doings and or crime.

Answer 4

You do kind of have a point. When it comes to things like smoking, drinking, voting, driving, etc. kids are judged solely according to some arbitrary age limit. But when they commit a crime, then they are examined closely and judged as individuals. It is basically a form of discrimination, but there is good reason for it and it mainly has to do with government resources. The problem is that it would be very difficult for the government to look at everybody in the entire country on a case-by-case basis and determine whether each individual young kid is mature enough yet to drive, smoke, drink, vote, get married, etc. Maybe someday it would be possible, but if we tried that now the courts would become massively overloaded because essentially, it would be putting EVERY citizen on trial. And what guidelines would they use to determine such things? So we simply go by age standards and apply them uniformly to everybody. As for crimes, it's relatively easy to determine whether a kid has enough of an understanding of the basic difference between right and wrong and whether he had enough intent and premeditation when committing a particularly heinous act to be considered fully responsible for it.

Answer 5

I think it's pretty rare for a minor to be charged as an adult and when they are it's usually because the crime is particularly bad or there are many crimes. Of all the instances where a minor has been charged as an adult that I can think of, I agreed with all of them. In fact, I don't think it happens enough.

Far too many 16 year old thugs think "I'm a minor so what can they do to me?" well the answer is that they can charge you as an adult.

Answer 6

enable me handle the reform you made I stay in Colorado so understand particularly nicely the Columbine shottings you talked approximately. i'm actual indignant at your lack of expertise; it grow to be no longer the bulies being killed. most of the victims the place in basic terms there, some have been sturdy young ones who had finished no incorrect to the shooters. i visit agree they have been bulied, yet doesnt each and every college have bullies, hasnt close to truly everyone been bullied or bullied- confident. What gave those young ones the nicely suited to then kill harmless scholars. in spite of if it grow to be basically the bullies they centred shall we are saying, bullying and homicide are particularly diverse crimes, no? in the previous you attempt and sense no sympathy for the victims of Columbine college bloodbath, do even monor study. As for the subject rely- I agree that a 17 year previous who rapes then murders a woman, pre-medittated, could desire to be charged as a 19 year previous could be. it particularly is an quite case-by ability of-case situation. As pronounced above, the courts do no longer value all minors as adults, it might in basic terms be unlawful and illogical.

Answer 7

In general. the crimes kids commit are - well, kid's stuff. A kid who gets caught shoplifting will not be punished in the same way an adult is. A kid committing one of the above crimes obviously will be punished differently than an adult for which those things are legal. But when a kid commits a premeditated heinous crime, then they forfeit their "protected" status as kids. I'm okay with that.

There are far more rights that kids have than don't have. As for your long list of age appropriate rights, no kid is denied the right to vote, they just have to grow up first.

Answer 8

If kids can be rehabilitated then they would never get in trouble to begin with.
There's a small town, not far from where I live, who passed a law stating if a minor gets arrested - the parents go to court for the crime. If the parents would have done a better job, at raising their children, then minors would not be getting into trouble at all.

Answer 9

Ask some questions:
Legally
Can a minor buy cigarettes: no
Can a minor buy alcohol: no
Can a minor vote: no
Can a minor get a drivers license in all 50 states: most states yes
Can a minor sign a contract without a parent: usually no, but if it is a contract at a doctors office for an abortion some states allow a minor to have that surgery without a parent (even though abortions may cause problems)
Can a minor get married w/o parental consent: dont think so
Can a minor give sexual consent: some states yes if they are 16
Can a minor join the service: i think maybe at 17 and a half dont know for sure.

Answer 10

I do not agree with you. I feel that if a child does a adult crime they should be tried and sentenced like an adult. We have been coddling children too much and letting them get away with things because they are children. Or if a child repeatly commits the same crime they too should be punished like an adult. An adult gets their rights taken away for committing a crime ,so children should be granted rights for being in the wrong.