Small minds! (Young Offenders - What Should The Law Do With Them?)

Member Name: Shoulda

Product:	Young Offenders - What Should The Law Do With Them?
Date:	14/11/02 (63 review reads)
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Everyone seems quick to remind us that, regardless of a persons crime or motive or even knowledge of their actions, if they are under a certain age they are children, therefore they cannot be responsible for the crime! In my opinion if you are fully aware and in control of your actions, you are in turn responsible for them, age regardless!
If you knowingly commit a crime you are a criminal! Age should not be taken into account to ascertain guilt, only knowledge of the crime and motive, as is just with an adult who commits a crime. Age should only be taken into consideration when assigning punishment.
It is also my opinion that young offenders should be punished for all crimes they commit, regardless of severity with punishments ranging from community service (perhaps even in the offenders own school) for small crimes to imprisonment for more serious crimes!
I do not believe that children should be locked up in adult prisons but I do believe that the juvenile centers that are in place today are too lenient, they give the offender far too much luxury and freedom. Yes these offenders need to be rehabilitated, they also need to be punished. If they learn at a young age that no crime goes unpunished then maybe they will be less likely to re-offend, where as, if they are sent to a luxuries room with a T.V, computer, days out, unlimited phone privileges, no school, no chores, no responsibility and their only punishment is the inability to come and go as they please (as is apparent in today's justice system) they will more than likely feel that they have been rewarded for their actions and re-offend.
Further (and with this comment I am in no way blaming parents for all of their child's mistakes), I feel that if a child commits a crime without realizing the full consequences of his/her actions (to both himself/herself and his/her victims), then responsibility must fall to the parent. I feel that a support/social worker should be assigned to the family
of any and all young offender, both to supervise appropriate punishment and also to guide and advise the parents!

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