Criminal Child Punishment

Erin - posted on 09/12/2009

I think it depends on the crime and the motives... Murder, although not good, is sometimes understandable... I would hate to go away because I killed an intruder in MY home! Crimes of passion also can fall in this category... although I think that it may be easy, in some cases, to make a well thought out crime look like an act of passion...? I think if a 15 yr old plans to kill someone should be tried as an adult. I don't think that people who plan to kill their abuser should be tried as hard as someone who plans to kill for other reasons... because if i was in an abusive relationship w/someone (parent/lover/etc) then I think on some level you invision ways to kill them and that is all part of planning... I think that we should be harsher w/our children, but then fear that locking them away forever would institutionalize them and that would also NOT be beneficial!!!

Konda - posted on 09/12/2009

Quoting Loureen:

Well i dont think they are setting a good example for children with adult criminal punishment what with rapists and murderers walking after a few years what kind of message does that send ?
Hey its ok to commit the worst of crimes because you will probably get away with it !
I also think in some cases parents should be held accountable for their childs actions , they are after all still children in their parents care .

I whole-heartedly agree with that last statement, I think if more parents were held accountabe then there would be a lot less juvenile crime.  Even just acknowledging your child's crimes is a must......hubby nor my father for that matter, could count the number of times they hear/heard in theri careers as police officers, "not my child, my child would not do that".

Charlie - posted on 09/12/2009

Well i dont think they are setting a good example for children with adult criminal punishment what with rapists and murderers walking after a few years what kind of message does that send ?
Hey its ok to commit the worst of crimes because you will probably get away with it !
I also think in some cases parents should be held accountable for their childs actions , they are after all still children in their parents care .

Shannon Cassidy- - posted on 09/12/2009

I think kids less likely would try something if they knew they would be punished severly for it . Unless they have the attitude that I will get away with it any way so what the hell. I gues it depends on the Child.

Konda - posted on 09/12/2009

I am on the fence about this. Like Sharon said, most 'know' right from wrong, but they are considered kids for a reason....one reason we don't let them drive/vote/drink until certain ages. Now those that commit heinous crimes, I still don't know....for me, those that commit these type of crimes usually have severe mental illnesses, so that opens even another debate.

Sharon - posted on 09/12/2009

Oh man. Kids know right from wrong. BUT newer more complete and comprehensive scans of teen brains show that their logic and reason functions aren't always working together.



But as a teen I would never have dreamed of killing my parents. running away, yes. dreaming of whoever I was pissed at going away and living my life in peace yes, but killing them? NOPE.



Difference between and those teens who killed their parents because they took away their x-box.... beats the shit out of me.