Recently, the rising crime among youth has led to the debate whether they should be tried in court as adult or treated differently because of their age. Although some people believe that they are too young to think before they act, I personally think that youth who commit serious crime should be prosecuted in the same way as adult offenders.
Those who think juvenile offenders should not be punished as harsh as adult criminals tend to focus on it potential negative effects. The common concern are it effectiveness and fairness. When people with criminal record re-enter the society, most of them are treated unfairly and likely to find it difficult to find a job. While this is particularly hard for former prisoners who committed crime when they were young and didn’t go to school, it will lead to resentment and potentially reoffend. On the other hand, the long sentence could be totally unfair because of wrong conviction. In order to attract more viewers, the media may sensationalise crime and mislead the jury and judge. Therefore, it is unfair for young criminals to serve the sentences.
However, there are some reasons for give young criminals a longer prison terms as same as adult counterparts. Unlike shoplifting, vandalism, and driving without license, offenders can released after pay fine and do some community services, kidnap, rap, and murder are extremely serious crimes which involve someone’s life. Thus, long prison can stop the young criminals from pose a threat to others and make them reflect on their own behaviours in jail. Besides, criminals can still be reformed by the wide range of reformed programs provided in prison, such as counselling, vocational training, religious activities. This help them increase the employability and become law - abiding citizens.
To conclude, the harsh punishment can deter young criminals from re-offend and reform them into contributing members of society. I think it should not only be introduced but also should be as severe as the sentence for adult.
Recently, the rising
crime
among youth has led to the debate whether they should
be tried
in court as adult or treated
differently
because
of their age. Although
some
people
believe that they are too
young
to
think
before
they act, I
personally
think
that youth who commit serious
crime
should
be prosecuted
in the same way
as adult offenders.
Those who
think
juvenile offenders should not
be punished
as harsh as adult
criminals
tend to focus on it potential
negative
effects. The common concern are it effectiveness and fairness. When
people
with
criminal
record re-enter the society, most of them
are treated
unfairly
and likely to find it difficult to find a job. While this is
particularly
hard
for former prisoners who committed
crime
when they were
young
and didn’t go to school, it will lead to resentment and
potentially
reoffend
.
On the other hand
, the long sentence could be
totally
unfair
because
of
wrong
conviction. In order to attract more viewers, the media may
sensationalise
crime
and mislead the jury and judge.
Therefore
, it is unfair for
young
criminals
to serve the sentences.
However
, there are
some
reasons for give
young
criminals
a longer prison terms as same as adult counterparts. Unlike shoplifting, vandalism, and driving without license, offenders can released after pay fine and do
some
community services, kidnap, rap, and murder are
extremely
serious
crimes
which involve someone’s life.
Thus
, long prison can
stop
the
young
criminals
from pose a threat to others and
make
them reflect on their
own
behaviours
in jail.
Besides
,
criminals
can
still
be reformed
by the wide range of reformed programs provided in prison, such as counselling, vocational training, religious activities. This
help
them increase the employability and become law
-
abiding citizens.
To conclude
, the harsh punishment can deter
young
criminals
from re-offend and reform them into contributing members of society. I
think
it should not
only
be introduced
but
also
should be as severe as the sentence for adult.