Juveniles Should Not Be Tried As Adults

In a case with a teenage boy named Shawn, he attacked his father in his sleep and stabbed him repeatedly in the arms, head, and neck. He claimed to have no memory in doing so. He was sent to adult criminal court and could have faced a 15 year sentence, but he avoided the adult sentence and received punishment from the juvenile system. His punishment included a 90 day evaluation at the California Youth Authority and then was put on probation. The supreme court has slowly given juveniles more rights. In the Kent v. United States case, it lead to juveniles being allowed the same due process as adults. In the In re Gault case, it lead to the 6th and 14th amendments being given even in the juvenile court. Lastly, in the Roper v. Simmons case, …show more content…
The first reason why juveniles should not be tried as adults is because their brains are not fully matured. It is proven that the amygdala, which is a part of the brain, is responsible for very strong emotion, which is not developed during teenage years. For example, in the case on the PBS website where 15 year old Jacob killed his mother and stepfather because of the emotional and sexual abuse, he acted upon impact and out of his emotions for how he was feeling about they way they treated him and caused him to be emotionally. Therefore, if teenagers do not even have control over their emotions, they act without thinking and do not necessarily realize the possible consequences. An adult is able to handle events in a more calm and mature manner unlike teenagers. Another reason why juveniles should not be tried as adults is because they might come from a background where all they know is violence. For example, in a juvenile case study of a 14 year old named Manny, himself and two other gang members attacked a family in their neighborhood. He grew up having no father and joined a gang in the 4th grade. Therefore, growing up, all he knew was the gang life and the violence involved within it along with having no father growing up in a rough neighborhood. Lastly, juveniles should not be tried as adults because it doesn’t give them the opportunity to grow as a human. For …show more content…
They are not giving a fair chance at rehabilitation along with their hope being overridden by the way of life they have to live by while being imprisoned. Their minds are not fully developed like an adult 's and they should be given that chance to enhance and get better, Teens are obviously young and if they continue to be defiant and commit crimes once they are adults, then that 's when they should be given an adult punishment. Teens who grow up with only knowing violence should get the chance to redeem themselves as they get older and get help in doing so. All in all, teens are still learning and they deserve chances while they are growing up into