Chiropteran
Diamond Member
- Nov 14, 2003
- 9,811
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Because there are plenty of actual "juvenile" offenses where kids should be given a bit more leeway than adults. IMO a 15 year old may not be as likely to grasp why something like shoplifting is wrong, and the legal system should deal with them accordingly. For crimes like rape and murder though anyone who's not mentally defective should know that those are unacceptable.
I've heard that argument, not convinced it makes sense though.
The idea is, if you punish the child too harshly you ruin the rest of his life for something fairly mild, like shoplifting. Yeah, I get that. But can't you use the same argument when it comes to adults? 19 year old shoplifts something minor for whatever stupid reason, are we as a society better off by ruining the rest of this guys life?
I can't think of a situation where a more relaxed punishment would make sense for a first offender child but not for a first offender "adult". Adult in quotes because many legal adults lack the maturity you need to really participate in society.
I do not agree that age should fit into the decision, at all.
