TOPIC: Young people who commit crimes should be treated the same way as adults. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
It is proposed that young offenders should receive the same legal treatment as adult criminals. Taking various rational factors into account, I completely disagree with this proposal.
Treating juvenile criminals the same way as adults cannot be fair when biological factors are also considered. Before reaching adulthood, the human body undergoes critical developmental processes, after which we reach emotional maturity. As young people have not reached this psychological maturity, their unlawful actions can be overlooked, meaning identical punishments cannot be applied to these young people with adult criminals. Studies also emphasize this developmental difference and suggest that juveniles’ impulsive behavior is nothing but natural and relate this to the development of certain parts of young people’s brains.
Young people’s strong potential for rehabilitation can also justify the fact that young offenders should be treated differently than adults. The very developmental process can also mean that young people’s behavior can be reformed as they, during this process, usually undergo behavioral changes, forming their true individuality. This means that with proper education and psychological support, there can be a chance to make them reintegrate into society and become law-abiding citizens, even after committing a crime. For example, in Norway, reeducation of young offenders and their involvement in community service are prioritized so that these people can change positively and contribute to societal progress, instead of spending years in prison with harmful environments. Notably, this approach has helped Norway to reduce juvenile crime significantly, which can make us conclude that the same legal treatment for both young and adult criminals can be inefficient only.
It should also be noted that applying identical punishments to both young and adult criminals can be counterproductive even if applied as a deterrent. This can be explained by the same developmental process mentioned above, because the adult criminal system may expose juveniles to harmful environments, which possibly foster violence and a lack of education. All these can turn young offenders into lifelong criminals, who possibly struggle to reintegrate into society and commit a crime upon release.
In conclusion, imposing the same punishments on both young and adult criminals can neither be fair nor effective. This is because young people’s cognitive development should be a vital factor to take into consideration. Treating differently can be beneficial in the long run since this approach would not ignore the importance of psychological development, the possibility of reshaping young people’s behavior, and preventing reoffending. All of these can make young criminals less culpable for harsh punishments or long prison sentences.
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