Juvinile offenders Literature & Language Essay Paper (Essay Sample)

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Should Juvenile offenders be taken to adult courts?
Juvenile delinquency is referred to as the participation of a minor between the ages of 10 to 17 in an act that violates state or federal laws. Children who display persistent behavior of disobedience or mischievousness are also considered out of parental control and, as such, are subject to legal action by the justice system. One of the most controversial questions that have elicited mixed reactions from the public is whether or not juvenile offenders should be tried in courts of law as adults. The issue has been the subject of many debates because some people believe minors are driven by peer pressure to commit crimes and are not aware of the consequences. Juvenile proceedings differ from adult proceedings and, as such, will be more lenient on the offender. The opposition, however, holds that the nature of the crimes should be put into consideration when handling these cases. Consequently, they believe that minors should be tried as adults if they commit serious crimes that are of adult-nature.
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According to Krohn et al., the last decade, has seen a substantial increase in the rate of crimes committed by juveniles. For instance, over 1 million juvenile arrests were made in 2012 alone, which translates to 38% more than the arrests made in 2003 (68). Violent offenses are on the rise, and the disturbing issue is that children commit such acts. The violent crime index shows that for this population, aggravated assault, murder, rape, and non-negligent manslaughter have become prevalent in many societies. A person who is capable of such an act should not be accorded preferential treatment. Juvenile offenders should, therefore, be tried as adults and punished to the full extent of the law so that they can be aware of the consequences of such an act (Burfeind, James, and Dawn 115).