It is a fact that the cognitive development of a young person is not complete until they are in their early twenties. They do not have the ability of adults to understand long term consequences of bad actions. The connections in the brain literally are not there yet. Holding a 12 year old to the same standard as a 30 year old when they don't have the same mental development is wrong. Punish yes but throw away the key no. Europe considers you a juvenile till 21 or even 25 and don't try children as adults. Funny how we refer to a 16 year old as a child who doesn't know what they are doing when they have sex but a 12 year old knows all when they do something horrible.
The belief by some that minors commit crimes now because unfortunate situation of these youths taking advantage of the time when they are young to commit more violent acts knowing that the punishment will be light. Minors know the difference between right and wrong. …show more content…
This symbolizes society's recent shift toward taking a tougher view of adolescents' culpability.
In 18th century America, little distinction was made in the criminal culpability of children versus adults. Juveniles as young as age six would be tried and sentenced in criminal courts. As psychologists and sociologists began to recognize the emerging conception of adolescence as a developmentally distinct period of life, activists argued that minors should be removed from adult penitentiaries.
In the 1990s several states have adopted a "get tough" approach to juvenile justice as a response to the increasingly violent crimes committed by children. As of 2003 many states had adopted legislation that permits more children to be tried as adults. All states have a provision allowing prosecutors to try juveniles as young as 14 as adults under certain circumstances. In a few states such as, Indiana, South Dakota, and Vermont, children as young as 10 can be tried as
The belief by some that minors commit crimes now because unfortunate situation of these youths taking advantage of the time when they are young to commit more violent acts knowing that the punishment will be light. Minors know the difference between right and wrong. …show more content…
This symbolizes society's recent shift toward taking a tougher view of adolescents' culpability.
In 18th century America, little distinction was made in the criminal culpability of children versus adults. Juveniles as young as age six would be tried and sentenced in criminal courts. As psychologists and sociologists began to recognize the emerging conception of adolescence as a developmentally distinct period of life, activists argued that minors should be removed from adult penitentiaries.
In the 1990s several states have adopted a "get tough" approach to juvenile justice as a response to the increasingly violent crimes committed by children. As of 2003 many states had adopted legislation that permits more children to be tried as adults. All states have a provision allowing prosecutors to try juveniles as young as 14 as adults under certain circumstances. In a few states such as, Indiana, South Dakota, and Vermont, children as young as 10 can be tried as