Camay Oliveira

7 December 2014
Period 2
Expos Writing 1
Should juveniles who commit serious crimes be tried as adults, with the possible
sentence of life in prison?
Children and teens that are tried in adults courts are very serious situations. Some believe that
children are innocent, but when they do commit crimes and they do need to be punished. Some of the
commit crimes are small, like, taking a hair clip from a friend. Some who are countless commit crimes
such as rape, robbery, assault, murder, and attempted murder. For such crimes I believe that juvenile
hall is just not enough. These youngsters that commit violent crimes should be sent to adult prison.
These kids would learn the consequences of their actions but few years in juvenile hall and a little
counseling time will not give the juvenile the response of help that is required.
Rapists, murderers, and other criminals are being released from jail everyday after serving short
and lenient sentences. Juveniles are being tried everyday in juvenile courts, they are receiving
shortened sentences, and they are being released and are given identities to continue to live their their
lives in peaceful and happy ways, but little do they know their families and victims are left to suffer
forever. Because courts and juveniles rights are advocated to believe that second chances should be
given to youths who commit serious crimes, criminals are walking the streets, living as the neighbors of
our community, and in many instances committing additional crimes.
Especially important , when it comes to trialing teens in court as adults. Some say stop trialing
them and trial them as juveniles, others say they must tried has adults when they commit serious
crimes. In Ken Stiers article, Getting the Juvenile-Justice System to Grow Up, in Time Magazine, he
affirms the fact that every year, some 200,000 youths are tried, sentenced or incarcerated as adults. He
also discusses how many advocates and academics argue that juveniles are not being given enough of a
chance to turn their lives around after committing minor offenses. Juveniles should be held accountable
for their actions and tried as adults. For instance If I knew somebody who hurt or killed someone that I
love, I would want him or her to experience the worst possible punishment for their actions.
By extension, some people might have said that children learn from bad experience and
behavior from their parents, things from murder, rape or even drug abuse; but children should be
smarter to learn from their parents mistakes. From what Jessica Wilde say's,Morals are inherent from
birth. This says that kids (also as adolescence), and adults, should know the difference between what's
wrong, and what's right. In Startling Finds on Teenage Brains, by Paul Thopmson; Reporters and teen
had asked if studies could help explain the impulsive, erratic behavior of teens. The result was the
biggest surprise in the recent teen brain research is the finding of that a massive loss of brain tissue
occurs in the teen years.
It really doesn't matter the age of the criminal, if they are committing crimes that are inherently
adults in nature, then they should absolutely should be punished as an adult, regardless of their age. Our
justice system, courts, our schools, nor the societies, should ever allow anyone, child or adult get away
with any type of serious crimes out there. In fact Jessica Wilde stated,All crimes committed by
juvenile should and must be treated in the same regard, it not to punish heinous acts, the to provide
justice to the families of victims. Morals are said and learned, others are inherit morals at birth,
nevertheless of the situation, a criminal is a criminal and must be punished as such.

Although some people believe that we should stop putting juveniles in adult prisons, the beliefs
should be lenient with them and give them easier sentences. These suggestions of rehabilitated wont
make children that are capable of learning from the mistakes. Some might say teens are too young to
understand the consequences of their actions and they don't know their limitations with drugs or
alcohol. Teens shouldn't be drinking or doing doing drugs in the first place. This all has to do with a
teenagers and their NOT developed brains.
Obviously, much controversy exists on the question of whether a juvenile criminal should be
punished to the same extent as an adult. Those who commit capitol crimes, including adolescents,
should be penalized according to the law. Age should not be a factor in the case of serious crimes.
Many people claim that the child did not know any better, or that he was brought up with the
conception that this behavior is acceptable. Although there is some truth to these allegations, the reality
of this social issue is far more complex.