Not Yet an Adult in the Juvenile Justice System Essay

By law, the age of 18 gives you a lot of privileges which means they define them as an adult. Compare to a teenager, adults are expected to depend on themselves while teenagers depend on their parents. Adults are expected to be responsible for their actions. Teenagers should also be responsible for their actions, shouldnt they? People should not treat teenagers as kids. Teenagers should know that committing a crime is wrong. The Justice Department says that about 10 percent of all homicides are committed by juveniles and almost every year, the FBI arrests more than 33,000 young adults for offenses. Crime is a crime and being a teenager is not an excuse from being punished by law like an adult. The juvenile justice system is influenced†¦show more content†¦They should also know the court will charge them as an adult for committing a crime for the second time even if the crime not as brutal as the other cases. Juvenile court is not a shield of youths from the consequences of their actions. Teenagers are not kids. They are young adults. They know what they are doing. They know right from wrong. In Jessica Reaves article, she wrote her opinions about how kids understand violence: â€Å"Kids today are more sophisticated at a younger age; they understand the implications of violence and how to use violent weapons. It is absurd to argue that a modern child, who sees the effect of violence around him in the news every day, doesnt understand what killing really is. The fact that child killers know how to load and shoot a gun is an indicator that they understand exactly what theyre doing.†(Reaves) Gun, knife and any other deadly weapons, even us youth knows that those could kill people. Maybe teens are not old enough to drive, drink, smoke but they are old enough to know that crime is a hateful thing to do. The argument of young offenders be charged in adult courts began in 1990. Many people had different opinions on whether they should be treated as adults or not. Even I had a hard time to choose which side I am agreeing with. At first, I thought that they all deserve a chance to change and that their brains are not completely develop that is why they should not be treatedShow MoreRelatedJuvenile Justice And Delinquency Prevention Act Of 19741625 Words   |  7 PagesA juvenile or â€Å"youthful inmate† as defined by the Prison Rape Elimination Act of 2003 (PREA) is any person under the age of eighteen who is under adult-court supervision and incarcerated or detained in a prison or jail. While PREA defines a juvenile as under the age of eighteen the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act of 1974 (JJDPA) allows the states to set their own definition of a juvenile (Lahey). This discrepancy in the definition of a juvenile has caused problems and slow progressRead MoreJuvenile Delinquency Is A Problem1508 Words   |  7 PagesJuvenile Delinquency When looking into the history of United States and elsewhere juvenile delinquency is a problem and has been one for over a century. Like other systems in place, the system involving juvenile delinquents has gone through many stages. In the case of the juvenile delinquency, it has gone through four stages, with us presently in the fourth. The causes behind juvenile delinquency are still unknown even today. Some blame it on the current culture, the over-exposure to violenceRead MoreJuvenile Rehabilitation: Adult Prison vs. Juvenile Incarceration1703 Words   |  7 PagesJuvenile Rehabilitation: Adult Prisons vs. Juvenile Incarceration Maureen Fries-Labra English 122 Anna Hopson December 14, 2009 Juvenile Rehabilitation: Adult Prisons vs. Juvenile Incarceration The criminal justice system has a branch for juvenile offenders. Established in the early twentieth century; it is the responsibility of this division to decide the fates of youthful offenders. This is administered by family court with support of social workers and family. With the increased numberRead MoreJuvenile vs Adult Justice System Essay989 Words   |  4 PagesAdult Justice v Juvenile Justice System There is no question that if a person is involved in any type of crime they will at some time make their way through the justice system. However, when that person is an adolescent they will go through the juvenile justice system, as an adult would go through the adult justice system. Even though the crimes of each can be of the same manner or hold the same severity the punishment results can differ. The main reason for having the two different justiceRead MoreDeterminate Sentencing: Last Chance in Texas Essay1325 Words   |  6 Pagesmore popular in juvenile courts. It is a special statute that allows for the possibility of a juvenile serving a sentence beyond the age of 21. It specifically covers certain violent offenses and drug cases, like murder, capital murder, sexual assault, and indecency with a child. Aggravated controlled substances cases are also covered (TYC website). 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In an article in the New York Times called, â€Å"Juveniles Don’t Deserve Life Sentences† Gail Garinger explains why juveniles and adults are different. He states, â€Å"Young people are biologically different from adults. Brain imaging studies reveal that the regions of the adolescent brain responsible for controlling thoughts, actions and emotions are not yet fully developedRead MoreJuveniles Should Never Be Charged As Adults894 Words   |  4 PagesJuveniles should NEVER be charged as Adults The criminal court system is the system of law enforcement that is directly involved in apprehending, prosecuting, defending, sentencing, and punishing those who are suspected or convicted of criminal offenses. While the juvenile court system, is used to address and deal with youth, who are caught and/or convicted of crimes. The juvenile court system was established in the United States about two hundred years ago, with the first court appearing in IllinoisRead MoreShould Juvenile Offenders Be Considered?1521 Words   |  7 PagesShould juvenile offenders be considered a source of fear and subjected to incarceration in adult prisons or a part of society worthy of being rehabilitated? Juvenile delinquents are feared by many today. They are revered as violent, superpredators, a generation lost without a cause and without ethics or morals. Some may say that it becomes an act in futility to try to find a solution to the increased crime rate when it comes to juvenile offenders. In a n effort to find a solution, any solutionRead MoreShould Juveniles be Tried in the Adult Criminal Justice System?624 Words   |  3 Pagescase for many juveniles, some as young as 13! A juvenile is subject to a more severe sentence with the limited sentencing available. It is estimated that 250,000 youth are prosecuted as adults, each year. This number should change, as juveniles are not adults, both mentally and physically. Juveniles need an environment surrounded with guiding adults, education and the resources to help them. A juvenile is not an adult, and should not be tried as one. The environment in adult facilities is immensely