Is it time that we started to treat children from 13 years for crimes like adults?

Question

Especially where someone is murdered?

Here: http://uk.news.yahoo.com/pressass/20070814/tuk-three-youths-charged-with-murder-6323e80_2.html

The number of incidents in general that children & teenagers is growing the government needs to act.

I know of several people who are being intimidated by teenagers and the police are powerless to do anything.

A friend of mine has to suffer verbal abuse and attacks to her car because the parents are under an ASBO, the parents use their 9 children to create havoc in the close she live on. The family are responsible for several muggings and I nearly became a victim myself.

Infact todate I have had 3 Mugging attempts by teenagers who operate with military like execution.

The laws need to change and because of video games, it puts ideas into their heads and teaches them tricks, we had a spate of "Splinter Cell" type attcks a few months ago.

Then, you have School children going around stabbing and killing other school children...

So where do you draw the line?

If the laws are inplace to deal with these youth then it would be a fair assumption that they would think twice.

Where I live we have had curfews to try and curb the problems and when they do have a curfew you would be surprised at how much street crime, car theft and vandalism plumets.

Yes I believe parent should be punishe also for repeat and continual offenders and for persistant offenders, both should face prison, one for committing the crime (the child) and the other (parent) for not correcting the child in the first place because too many parents refuse to control their children with the excuse that "They're only children" which I find unacceptable myself.

One thing some people forget is that these children are carrying weapons and / or tools which indicates that the crimes that they commit are premeditated.

And todays Yahoo news: http://uk.news.yahoo.com/pressass/20070815/tuk-police-chief-hits-at-drinks-culture-6323e80_1.html

AND

Recently.... Some young man lost his life over an argument for a Chocolate bar....

Really does make you wonder what is wrong with youth of today.

This more like it, blanket curfews which I know do work because they have them regular here in Nottingham.

The poll illustrates just how fed up the public are with teenagers.
http://uk.news.yahoo.com/itn/20070820/tuk-fear-of-yob-culture-rising-dba1618_1.html

Answer 1

That's a good point. esp with the murderers and assault being committed by young kids. I bet you if they knew that that they would get lot more than a slap on the wrist.

Answer 2

Teen should not be locked up or treated like adults. This society has failed these kids thats why they are behaving this way. Kids are only allowed to do what adults allow them to do. Kids display signs early on before they commit a crime that is suitable for adult punishment. Parents should be more intuned to their childrens emotional and mental conditions, maybe crimes of this sort would not happen if they did. I notice parents want to be their childs best friend, instead of parenting for the real world.

Answer 3

Whilst i agree with you on most points what is the answer, if you lock them up as adults, they will turn into worse criminals than when they started, prison is not a deterrent for most, only a breeding ground for future hardcore criminals. I have seen first hand the problems they can cause, but it's got to start with discipline in the home, without that you have children and teens running riot and doing as they please. So many parents seem to refuse to accept responsibility for their child's actions, and perhaps if you can tackle them as well as the child you may see a lessening of crime on our streets. Children need sport, activities at school and outside, that stimulate them, get them off the streets, it's not the only answer but you have to start somewhere. And for those advocating the army that won't work, and why should the army be a dumping ground for our disaffected youth, they certainly wouldn't want them. Better policing, stop and search for all, sorry if that's very big brother but perhaps if the police were allowed to do their job, you might seem some improvement, and lets get them back on the beat, be visible, and maybe we wouldn't have so many teenagers being stabbed and shot on our streets. This government and all governments have to do more to advocate safety on our streets, just locking them up for years isn't the only answer.

Answer 4

Many of the crimes are being committed by kids younger than 13, I think 11 is the right age to bring kids into the criminal process, the earlier you catch them the easier it is to turn them back to the right path, the law in Barbados allows for you to shoot someone if they are trespassing on your land, we must remember that 95% of the crimes are committed by less than 2% of the population, the police know who they are but seem helpless to stop them, I personnally could not and would not live in fear from kids or any one else, if it was necessary I would take the law into my own hands and do what ever was necessary to protect my family and property, lets make the criminals afraid for their lives for a change, I have recently had reason to call the police and report problems with a group of teenagers, I told them to go and they replied we'll go when were f---ing ready, one a girl age 14 said we'll pour petrol through your letter box and set fire to your house, the police did not turn up, I have spent 4 weeks looking out for the girl who ran off and I have made it clear to her friends when I see her I am going to hit her so hard in the face that she'll need reconstructive surgery, I know I will be arrested but I consider her comments as an act of terrorism I will have to take care of this matter because the police do nothing.

Answer 5

Judicial caning should be applied, its a kind of punishment in some countries where parts of the boy's body were padded to prevent damages to the kidneys and the genital when the boy was being caned, it was done in the presence of a medical attendant, therefore one can imagine how severe it is, if the boy committed again a crime for a second time, then he should be tried like adults.

Answer 6

It's unfortunate that murders are getting younger and younger according to the news. I have also seen these rude children.

But these children have always been here? They were in the early wars, especially the Civil War. They took on head of household at very early ages. The world has become smaller, this is why it appears this way. They passed laws to keep children out of "sweat shops".....they are still children, unable to vote or buy liquor...they are children solely with bad learning behavior......(or sometimes mentally tapped).

I also fail to see the punishing of impressionable children with harsh treatment, only demonstrates to children things that they really don't fully understands.

Now if you had stated full treatment for bad behavior in a setting, where they won't go and learn to be worst criminals, I'm all for it.

I have also run up against ignorant parents, that don't actually understand the reasoning of controlling their spawns!
So once upon a time, me and my husband had to take things into our own hands. We alerted the family and then we punished the children with the same form of garbage they spew out.
When they were forced to deal with an adult, they quickly changed their attitude.
"It takes a village to raise a child?

But this can be risky. We were fortunate that they parents were hard working ignorant folk that didn't fight back. So we had to show them how to punish their spawns!!

It is also unfortunate that in some communities that the police will turn on you, to keep from exercising their duty, until you have to report them or you move!

Answer 7

I believe a lot of the problem children are so because they themselves are children of children - these children were allowed to keep their children and we need stricter laws regarding children getting pregnant as in say Sweden - when tiny they are treated as dolls and then of course get discarded because the parents are bored with being parents,leaving them to their own devices and gangs are made. I understand Scots law is different and perhaps we should look at this in the way we treat "children" . I have four children (grown) and 6 grandchildren and do not have this problem in the family - I bought 2 of mine up as a divorced single parent so know its hard but they have turned out fine.

Answer 8

It is time we start treating children like children .Keeping in mind that children have no rights,no say and no voice. We all need to discipline our children not let them rule our lives and make the decisions for us.We must become the adults we are meant to be. If that means we need to be strict so be it .If that means we need to be more like our parents or grand parents so be it. Was the world different when the adults ruled it? I think so. Now the children rule it and this is a sad state of affairs.Children telling the parents what to do , when to do it ,how to do it. Sounds crazy doesn't it but that is what is happening now. Next time you see a child leading a parent around and making life difficult please think what a good spanking would do for the child, the parent and society.

Answer 9

it is the system. Lack of parential control. Gov , justice system etc. Teachers fear the pupils. Afraid of using discipline. Thanks to so many hungry lawyers. When I was a child and did something in school I got spanked at school and again at home. We have lost control. Many of the troubled teens today are 3rd generation drug addicts. Our movies etc are just a part of it, Kids grow up too fast and too much p[eer pressure. They join gangs to belong. Something they do not find at home. We need to return to basics. We will sooner or later and it wont be fun. in some countries old men sit in streets dying from hunger. If we have another depression it will be lots of blood shed. if they kill for drugs what will it be like when they are hungry.

Answer 10

I'm with ya on this one ....from the age of knowing right from wrong ,if they want to act like their grown and above the law with all this "intimidation" mess.. then they need to know there is a price ...show them there are consequences ,sentence them according to the crime not the age........and as for parents , some of them really are victims themselves..that should be looked at....

Answer 11

words have meanings: a baby isn't mature adequate to understand what he's doing the way an person does. the human concepts isn't completely mature till the early Nineteen Twenties in previous cases 7 years previous became age of adulthood a baby must be hung in England for stealing a loaf of bread. besides the undeniable fact that some "babies " are very risky and must be controlled. that's a scientific psychological situation no longer a criminal one