Pros And Cons Of Juveniles As Adults

Improved Essays
Little People Big World
Abstract: Should juveniles ever be tried as an adult? That seems to be the question of the day at this time in society. This paper helps unfold the facts about trying juveniles either way, and the legal information as to what certain states hold laws about it. It also discusses the pros and cons and what the end result is of the individual after it is all said and done in certain situations. No matter your opinion, if you want to grasp a better one about this, then reading this paper will be beneficial for you.
Introduction: Certain ages bring certain baggage with them. When a person turns 18, they have the privilege of buying tobacco products. Another piece of luggage that comes with it, is responsibility. Although,
…show more content…
Beginning in the 1990s, virtually every state expanded their rules where to juveniles could be tried as adults. In May of last year, The Supreme Court ruled that juvenile offenders who have not been convicted of murder cannot be sentenced to life in prison without any chance of parole. A lot of people today are saying that the court system needs to take in to thought the juveniles psychological development and maturity. Williams’ attorney, said this, “We can never predict the future. I 'm guessing this is a tough lesson he 's learned in life and it will hopefully keep him from the streets and gangs, He literally just got his life back, and then lost it.”
Research: As I was debating on how I would conduct my survey, I finally came to the conclusion that I would just ask random people as I saw them throughout my day. I asked 25 people the same 4 questions which were as follows: Should juveniles ever be tried as adults? What age should people be considered juvenile? Under 18? Do you think juvenile aged people have full control of their actions? Do you believe adult punishment on juveniles is more effective or less down the road for the

Related Documents

  • Improved Essays

    And their characters are still in formation” (6). Throwing a juveniles in an adult prison despite committing an “adult” crime is similar to throwing a kitten into a cage of lions. There is a difference between a child and an adult. Adults have more life experience, their brain are more developed, their emotions can easily be controlled. A child on the other hand is underdeveloped, they learn from the adults around them.…

    • 1190 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Consequently, they are more prone to risk taking and peer influence than adults; they think less about their future and express their emotions in more volatile ways. The juvenile system recognizes this distinct adolescent nature, and allows for recovery through developmentally appropriate programs, making young adults under eighteen better suited for the juvenile system rather than the adult system. However, when young law-breakers murder or rape someone, it is much more difficult call on whether they should be tried as adults or juveniles. The decision should be made on a case-by-case basis, depending on the severity, motive, and nature of the crimes. For example, a sixteen-year-old boy murdering his father to protect his sister warrants a different analysis than a case of a remorseless sixteen-year-old boy who murdered a mother and her two young children to steal a car.…

    • 413 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Children committing heinous crimes are not a rare occurrence anymore; the upsetting reality requires new tactics for dealing with young juveniles. Some Americans believe children should be tried as adults, yet others feel that they are too young to understand their wrong doings. In most conditions minors are quickly told they are too young or too old for something, however before being sent to an adult facility we need to contemplate all aspects of the case in order to decided whether or not being tried as an adult is necessary. Regardless of the crime, some people feel that an adult facility is not a suitable environment for children to serve their sentences.…

    • 1083 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    First, proponents of the idea that they should not be tried as adults suggest that ¾ of juveniles cannot function as adults. However, that means that ¼ of juveniles who commit crimes can function in a manner very similar to adults. Although this information may be somewhat accurate flow psychology states that juvenile crime is on the rise which means that they do have Criminal Intent because if they were accidents the number would not go up. Also, supporters of the idea of juveniles should not be tried as adults claim that they can not physically and emotionally handle adult prison. Although this information may be somewhat accurate prisons are made for punishment not for the prisoners to have a good time.…

    • 801 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    The article, “Juveniles Should Be Tried As Adults” by Mary Estudillo, brings up many strong arguments as to why juveniles should be tried as adults, but the opposing article, “Juveniles Should Not Be Tried As Adults” written by Hannah McCrea strongly claims they should not. Estudillo cites examples of cases in which juveniles committed first and second degree murder, and were thereafter tried as adults. She explains how juveniles should be tried as adults because they are criminals, and criminals need to held responsible for their actions. She also brings up how rehabilitation does little to sometimes nothing for the child, so when they are released, they commit another crime. Alternatively, McCrea authored “Juveniles Should Not Be Tried As Adults,” and states how adult prisons do more harm than good for juveniles.…

    • 1055 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Juveniles are not mentally capable to understand the crime they commit like an adult is, thus they should not be tried as an adult. A child, just like any living thing, goes through developmental stages. Throughout their growth periods, juveniles learn new skills and so do their brains. In a study, “Dr. Dorothy Otnow Lewis of New York University led comprehensive diagnostic evaluations of 14 juveniles on death row (at that time, 40 percent) in four states. She found that nine had major neuropsychological disorders and seven had psychotic disorders since early childhood” (Ortiz).…

    • 596 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    I don’t think juveniles should be placed in adult prison. It causes to many problems for younger kids to be surrounded by negative influences while they are still developing mentally and starting to mature. It causes problems with depression and making them think that some behavior is acceptable in a society outside of the prison when it isn’t. The depression leads to acting out which causes disciplinary actions that are to serve in prison than they would be in a juvenile facility.…

    • 447 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Superior Essays

    Adolescents need to know what results from their actions. Because of this, it is followed that juveniles should be tried as adults. If children want to act like adults and commit crimes, then they should be treated as adults and…

    • 2180 Words
    • 9 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Improved Essays

    A juvenile is a young person who are below the age of 18 accused. Based on some cases, they should also be considered as an adult. In June 25, 2012; the Supreme Court has made a ruling that juveniles who commit murder cannot be given life in prison. Four justices strongly disagree with this ruling, saying how juveniles should always be punished for their crimes from how heinous they are. In my opinion, I believe that juveniles should not receive life in prison under certain circumstances.…

    • 1660 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Great Essays

    An estimated 250,000 youth are tried, sentenced, or incarcerated every year across the United States (campaign for youth justice). There is large controversy regarding whether or not children and young adults should be required to be sentenced as adults, regardless of their age and circumstance. This is believed to be the most logical way of approaching this matter because every case should undergo the same consequences despite the criminal’s circumstances. An opposing view would argue that it is necessary to take into consideration the situation of each criminal case before deciding on the punishment. They would also claim that children specifically, should be given another chance due to their lack of maturity.…

    • 1774 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Great Essays
  • Improved Essays

    There have been many opinions on juveniles being convicted as adults on the crimes they have committed. When it comes to some of these harsh crimes, who could not punish the individual to the fullest? It does not matter how old a person is because everyone knows the difference between right and wrong. If someone is raised differently and believes it is okay to murder another human, than they cannot just change their mindset. An individual that makes and adult decision should have the same consequences.…

    • 1231 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Marin Sinzer Case Study

    • 723 Words
    • 3 Pages

    While the “criminal is a child” approach to the juvenile justice system is appealing due to its forgiving nature and emphasis on rehabilitation rather than punishment, there are some cases in which this decision is not so cut-and-dry. One of these instances of a legal “gray area” is the case of Marin Sinzer, who was charged for the murder of Tammy Shevin, 25 years after the crime was committed. The now 38 year old is petitioning to be tried as a juvenile, since he was only 13 at the time of the crime, a year younger than the waiver age at the time. While many proponents of the “criminal is a child” approach take that stance because of the physical and psychological dangers posed to juveniles who are placed in adult prisons, in this unique…

    • 723 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Over 100 years ago the United States established the Juvenile Justice system. In most states, a person who between the ages of 10 and 18 charged with a crime is considered a juvenile . The juvenile justice system main goal is to help rehabilitation rather than punishing the individual and held youths who commit crimes responsible for their action. Where adults who are accused and found guilty of a crime, the criminal justice courts focus on punishments. There are many debates over the juvenile justice on whether or not the system should need to focus more on proving rehabilitation or punishment like the adult criminal justice system .…

    • 853 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Superior Essays

    Juveniles should not be tried as adults for it is wrong to hold adolescents, under the legal age, to adult standards. If children do not even receive the same rights as adults in the first place, it makes no sense to try them in adult court. These juveniles should have the opportunity to be rehabilitated in a positive manner, for they tend to come from troubled households and violent neighborhoods. In over half of the cases these troubled kids don’t know any different way than a life of crime when surrounded by both social and environmental factors that influence their delinquent actions. One must commemorate that juveniles are mentally underdeveloped, and still have time to innovate if their issues are dealt with precisely and accurately.…

    • 1310 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Improved Essays

    The decision of juveniles being tried as adults in the world of criminal justice has usually been an object of controversy. Some agree that an adolescent who commits a serious crime like murder deserves to be penalized exactly like an adult; while others declare that a minor should not face the same punishment as an adult. However, no matter how severe or appalling a crime may be, juveniles should not be tried as adults; the reason being that everyone should be granted the chance to learn from their mistakes. Juveniles should not be punished as adults, simply because they biologically distinct from adults. Teenagers are the midsection between children and adults.…

    • 1250 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays