When Children Commit Crimes

[Leah, I'm HI-larious! (Head Mod)]

When a child commits a crime, should he be dealt with like an adult? After all, he was "adult" enough to commit the crime in the first place.

[Som]

Youth or child? Juvenile delinquency or bad parenting?

Either way, think they need more help than punishment.

[Evan]

There should be an age curb. A three year old with a gun is hardly going to know what will happen if they shoot someone, But a ten year old would know what they are doing. So no they shouldn't be treated as an adult when they are small, but at ten they have an understanding that would let them know the consequences of their actions.

[Faye]

Lia wrote: "If children at a young age (8-12) commit a crime, it isn't the sign of a bad seed, it's a sign of a failed system or society. This isn't them failing us, it's us failing them. They don't need punis..."

Agree with Lia. They might be children who are being handled in a wrong way...by the wrong people.

[Ella]

I think that if anyone commits a crime, not only a child, in most cases, they need help. The adults committing the crimes were children once too. Behaviour is a tug-a-war between internal and external forces. Instead of completely ostracizing them, we should at least try to help, if we havent already.

[Leah, I'm HI-larious! (Head Mod)]

And if they go back to their "old ways" after receiving help?

[Melissa]

Leah wrote: "When a child commits a crime, should he be dealt with like an adult? After all, he was "adult" enough to commit the crime in the first place."

I think around the age of 15 they should be. That would seem like an undeniably reasonable age where someone is more than capable of knowing the motives behind their own actions. If they do things that are bad, they should be punished. Especially if it's rape or murder. I am sick of 17 year olds getting off the hook for serious charges just because they're still considered a minor. It's terrible.