research outline

Persuasive Research Paper and Debate

It is tough to know what to do when you are responsible for convicting a juvenile of a crime. Multiple variables can exacerbate an already challenging trial procedure. Due to its emphasis on skill development, habilitation, rehabilitation, satisfying treatment needs, and successfully reintegrating juveniles into society, the juvenile justice system is generally the best option. The problem occurs when we prioritize this over national security. The adult trial system is an essential component of the judicial system in instances involving juvenile offenders.

For the sake of their safety and future opportunities, juvenile transgressions should be punished more harshly. Others contend that less severe punishment will teach youngsters, whereas jail will merely exacerbate their predicament. It decreases the possibility that a repeat offender will commit many significant crimes, in my opinion. According to the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, roughly 700 juvenile offenders participated in homicides in the United States in 2016 (USAGov). This accounts for around 7 percent of the nation's known killings. Between 2003 and 2006, the expected number of juvenile killings climbed by 32%. In every state investigated, children were shown to be significantly more likely than adults to re-offend the following release. The greatest known recidivism rate for juvenile offenders was 76 percent after three years and 84 percent after five years (Point Park University Online). For serious offenses such as murder and robbery, a slap on the wrist is sufficient. If children are not instilled with a healthy respect for the law and a healthy fear of punishment from a young age, the number of adolescents who do not comprehend the true repercussions of their acts will continue to climb. Overall, the purpose of prisons and the criminal justice system is rehabilitation and crime prevention. If this chance is denied to juvenile offenders based only on their age, the system fails to treat an issue before it escalates. Furthermore, those who have personally observed the ramifications of adolescent misconduct in their communities are often the most vocal proponents of harsh sanctions for juvenile offenders. According to their beliefs, more severe sentences will deter criminal activity and keep repeat offenders off the streets for longer periods of time. Human rights organizations have expressed concern about the recent ratification of new rules by the Victorian Parliament, which would see certain juvenile criminals tried as adults (Starts at 60 Writers). The juvenile justice system has changed, and teenagers charged with aggravated home invasion and aggravated carjacking must now appear in adult court and face adult consequences. These reforms were brought about by a series of teen rebellions in juvenile detention centers.

Morally, children of any age should be held accountable for their acts. Others may claim that "severe adolescent punishment is advantageous to the defendant but detrimental to the victim." You can thank me again for giving the facts and evidence proving that pursuing small offenses at a higher level inspires victim confidence in the justice system. Children as young as eight might decide to commit premeditated crimes like murder, and the criminal justice system must respond appropriately. Allowing a more lenient sentence for a horrible act based on the offender's age is unethical and unjust. In Wisconsin in 2018, a 10-year-old girl was charged with the murder of a 6-month-old infant (The Associated Press). Under state law, anybody over the age of ten was required to be tried in an adult court. The girl, age 10, is accused of abandoning the child, who then hit his head and began to cry. The female allegedly stomped him on the head to silence him. She told the police that she feared getting into trouble. She was charged with first-degree murder by the prosecution. For the victim's family, allowing this child to perform this horrible murder would be cruel and criminal.

When adolescents are placed in the adult justice system, they are instructed on moral responsibility. Although some may claim that alternatives to juvenile detention exist, the only way to hold juvenile criminals accountable is for their actions to have repercussions. Frequently, children are products of their environment. They will feel that criminal activity that appears "normal" or "accepted" in their homes is equally acceptable in society. Although there are no unambiguous records in juvenile courts proving age-related leniency, this conclusion can be reached from the data based on the sentences imposed on juveniles for offenses comparable to those committed by adults. Eventually, for the sake of everyone's safety, society must teach all young people, irrespective of their upbringing, that there are acceptable and unacceptable actions. One way to begin is by charging juveniles as adults. Early on, children must be taught responsibility. Recognize that your actions will have consequences. If we do not teach this to wounded children now, there will be no future for respect and healing. In addition, those who believe that stronger punishments will not reduce youthful criminality are incorrect. Some, such as the Queensland Law Society, believe that rehabilitation and educational assistance programs for criminals should be prioritized over other forms of rehabilitation (Starts at 60 Writers). Considering the widespread belief that a significant proportion of youth crimes are committed out of boredom, the government has created specific education and training programs to assist young offenders in obtaining employment and earning money. According to some, such as a 2011 report published by the Australian Institute of Home Studies, childhood maltreatment is the root cause of adolescent criminality, and it is critical to assist children and adolescents in exiting potentially dangerous home environments. According to the paper, "Children and adolescents who have progressed further along in the juvenile justice system are more likely to have experienced abuse and neglect, mental health concerns, and developmental delays than their peers" (Starts at 60 Writers). Several studies in the scientific literature have demonstrated a definite link between child abuse or neglect and delinquent behavior.

Based on this evidence, juvenile criminals should be tried using the adult system. This is a problem we cannot ignore, and this start toward improving our legal system has opened the floodgates to constructive change. It is not sufficient to operate within the limits of the system entrusted to us; we must address the difficulties of the world for the greater good. It is inappropriate to necessitate juvenile trials in order to protect the community and the people.

Works Cited

Point Park University Online. "What Are Juvenile Recidivism Rates and How Can They Be Reduced?" Point Park University Online, 25 May 2021, online.pointpark.edu/criminal-justice/juvenile-recidivism/.

Starts at 60 Writers. "Should Youth Offenders Face Harsher Penalties for Crime?" Starts at 60, 19 Jan. 2018, startsat60.com/media/opinion/should-youth-offenders-face-harsher-penalties-for-crime?msclkid=b262cc93ce8e11ec87f717b431e021df.