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Should Adolescents Be Tried As Adults Essay

796 Words4 Pages

Through the study of adolescents and cognitive development, psychologists and scientists often discuss the debate concerning whether adolescents are fully responsible for their actions. This is a significant issue not just historically but also presently, as many still consider if the judicial system should prosecute adolescents the same way adults are. Thus, many have debated whether or not adolescents should be punished as adults for their crimes, or given lesser punishments due to their undeveloped brains. In fact, over the years the United States’ criminal justice system has changed how they treat juveniles a number of times. In the past, adolescents have been tried as adults, but in different periods they have also been sent to juvenile rehabilitation centers. Overall, this paper will argue that when an …show more content…

For example, those who believe children should be tried as adults are often thinking in terms of public safety. If rehabilitation centers are not doing their jobs, then these kids can return to society behaving in the same dangerous ways (E. Warren, personal communication, April 4, 2018). Moreover, trying juveniles as adults introduces an element of scare tactics to society. Not only will their prosecutions be public knowledge, but also longer sentences may scare some away from committing crimes. Statistically, it is true that since the justice system started coming down harder on kids in the 1990s, crime rates have decreased (E. Warren, personal communication, April 4, 2018). Some would also argue that children committing extremely violent crimes don’t deserve second chances and allowing them to potentially be free would only put society at risk. (E. Warren, personal communication, April 4, 2018). Hence, these are all reasons why one would protest the notion that lack of cognitive development should prohibit kids from being tried as

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The article, “The Steep Costs of Keeping Juveniles in Adult Prisons” written by Jessica Lahey states, “Juveniles constitute 1,200 of the 1.5 million people housed in federal and state prisons in this country, and nearly 200,000 youth enter the adult criminal-justice system each year, most for non-violent crimes.” Minors should not be tried as adults because their brains are not developed, they may come from bad backgrounds, and they have their whole life ahead of them, and their life should not be determined by the mistakes they made as a child. Juveniles who are usually 14 or older who have committed serious crimes are tried as adults and are put into adult-state prisons. This is inhumane and unsafe for the child’s physical and mental health. One of the many reasons that minors should not be tried as adults is because their brains are not fully developed, so they cannot make good decisions until they are older, far into their twenties.

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Many people complain about how juveniles lack brain development and this should be an excuse. It makes others uncertain about trying them as adults since they lack decision-making and impulse control. Despite the lack of development, it’s ideal to recognize that for certain violent crimes, “there have to be consequences to actions” (Ford). Allowing juveniles to simply avoid adult punishment doesn’t help to promote public safety or give adolescents the responsibility they need in the future. But most people believe that juveniles still have room for rehabilitation and change.

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1900 Words | 8 Pages

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434 Words | 2 Pages

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964 Words | 4 Pages

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760 Words | 4 Pages

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