Juvenile Justice: Exploring the Debate on Adult Trials for Youths

This essay delves into the complex issue of whether juveniles should be tried as adults within the justice system. It begins by highlighting the sensitive nature of life and the concerning involvement of young individuals in criminal activities, leading to the role of juvenile justice departments. The essay explores the penalties and potential age limits for the adult justice system, raising questions about its effectiveness. It considers societal influences on child development, including violent environments and external factors such as companies that exploit young people. The author argues that the focus should remain on treating those under eighteen within the juvenile system and not sending them to adult court. The essay concludes by arguing that juveniles should not be sent to adult court as environment and external factors play a significant role in influencing a child's behavior.

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Should Juveniles be tried as Adults?
(Source: Common dreams, 2017).
Introduction
Life is very precious and we live it for once, what we do with it depends on our own
decision. It is very shameful that many individuals at their young age involve in criminal
activities and become juvenile criminals.
It is analyzed that every action has many consequences and to handle the issues we have
a juvenile justice department. It is considered as a network of agencies that handle the issues of
juveniles. These agencies take into consideration police, court, detention, prosecutor and also the
Department of Juvenile Corrections. When the youngsters commit more crimes, then they are
sent to adult court.(Salekin, Grimes and Adams, 2015).
There are many penalties that are imposed and also sentences up to life in the prison for a
long time. Is it correct? Do these youngsters have the capability to understand the crimes they are
doing? Is there any age limit that should be considered for introducing these youngsters into the

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adult justice system? These questions make people wonder that is it effective or is there any
better way to handle the young criminals in a proper manner.
By considering the recent scenario, it is seen that the crime rate is increasing and also
there are many evidence related to it. It is seen that the majority of youngsters are engaged in the
crimes. It is believed that majority of the young children belongs to a background that have a
high rate of learning disabilities (Decker and Marteache, 2017). It is also argued by many people
that in many states the court does not evaluate that if a minor is competent to proceed in criminal
court or he or she has a mental disorder. Not all the courts consider the same procedures, but
some follow proper criteria to transfer a juvenile to the criminal court (Bechtold and Cauffman,
2014).
I believed that the society play a significant role in child development. If the children are
raised in an environment where they experience a violent behavior, then they are supposed to do
the same. Many youngsters are controlled by the companies that conduct unlawful practices and
promise them to remove poverty. The main focus should be given to those who are younger than
eighteen. They should be punished with the people of the same age group (Monahan, Steinberg
and Piquero, 2015).
Conclusion
It is also evaluated that many people believes that if the youngsters are able to do a crime
like murder, then they must be treated as an adult and not as a child. In the agreement with
Thompson, there are many juveniles that run with their gangs or commit murders but instead of
punishing these youngsters with adults why these people are given jobs to clean up the streets
from drug dealers and gang violence. No person is born criminal, but the humans adapt their
surroundings and also get influenced by the activities. So, the juveniles should be not be sent to
an adult court.

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References
Bechtold, J. and Cauffman, E., 2014. Tried as an adult, housed as a juvenile: A tale of youth
from two courts incarcerated together. Law and human behavior, 38(2), p.126.
Decker, S.H. and Marteache, N. eds., 2017. International handbook of juvenile justice. Springer
International Pu.
Monahan, K., Steinberg, L. and Piquero, A.R., 2015. Juvenile justice policy and practice: A
developmental perspective. Crime and justice, 44(1), pp.577-619.
Salekin, R.T., Grimes, R.D. and Adams, E.W., 2015. 13 Clinical Forensic Evaluations for
Juvenile Transfer to Adult Criminal Court. Learning Forensic Assessment: Research and
Practice, p.294.