should juveniles who commit violent crimes be tried and sentenced as adults?
457445
they should face the same length of sentence (in a juvinile detention center) for the crime committed and if they turn 18 while serving their sentence, they should be transfered to a state prison.
887027
Wow - I didnt know this.\n\nIf its true then it would be an isolated incident and I think punishing the majority from having fun because of an idiotoc minority is not fair.\n\nAs long as this youth is convicted and given an appropriate punishment such that justice is done then fine, plus it will serve as an example to others of what will happen if you choose to harm others with fireworks or otherwise.
1020496
Yes there are, of course there are.  They are federal juvenile detention centers that are basically jails/prisons that house those adjudicated delinquent of a federal offense, but who were NOT treated as adult offenders. \n\nThere are some juvenile offenders that due to the severity of their crime, are transferred to adult federal district court to be tried and convicted as adults.  However, even if that person is convicted as an adult, s/he must be housed with juveniles until s/he turns 18. \n\nMany times, the juvenile -- treated as an adult -- will be in protective custody to avoid his/her escape, as most juvenile detention centers DO NOT have the same level of security an adult facility would have.
809346
USA:\n\nIf a minor has (in the opinion of the District Attorney) an understanding of right and wrong and an appreciation (usually a psych evaluation is required) for the crime, then said minor can be tried as an adult. We've had 11-year old alleged murderers tried as adults.\n\nHowever, please note, in this country the police CANNOT put you into prison, no matter how old or young you are. Police do not have that kind of power in our democracy. We have a judicial system where police investigate and arrest, but are not judge and jury!
719138
You can be charged with a state crime at any age.  It is simply a matter of whether you will be tried as an adult or as a juvenile.  Children as young as 10 have been charged as adults.
465460
No because they are juveniles, and are protected.
841449
I think you need a little of both. I wouldn't condone "street justice" however I do not believe in calling the cops for every little thing. I don't think sticking a kid into the court system for something I did 10-20 years ago is right either. Teaching about better judgement is a start. A second chance maybe if not a serious offense. Once you hit felony or repeat offender I say show no mercy they are old enough to know right from wrong.
565985
Actually, I'm not sure if you can really describe capital punishment for juveniles as somehow 'wronger' than all capital punishment for people of any age; after all, wrong is wrong, full stop, and there's no such thing as 'extra-wrong'.\n\nRighteous indignation seems to be one of the most uniquely American traits out there, at least judging by the other answers. So is the ability to take questions of moral ambiguity and render them as completely black-and-white, good-vs.-bad scenarios. Of course a minor killing another person is a terribly wrong thing. But the important thing is that the law correctly believes that the 'ability to make decisions' is something learnt with time. This applies to signing contracts, driving a car and voting as well (yes, and joining the army as someone mentioned). Wherever you draw the line will be arbitrary but logically the line that you draw needs to be standard. If you don't believe that a person's decision-making ability has developed enough to cast a vote for president, you shouldn't believe it is developed enough to understand the implications of murder. I don't believe that a 17-year-old (or 15 in fact) is an innocent ingenue, but if he's a murderer worthy of the death penalty, what about a 13-year old? An 11-year-old? If it's up to the courts to redefine the 'line', then the principle of precedence means there will always be a trend downwards. And that's frightening.
608177
I am not sure what your are speaking of. Restate your question. Juveniles (in most states) are adjudicated in a separate court away from adults. Most are held there until a Juvenile reaches their 16th birthday, unto which any new charges will be tried in regular court.
480924
False.\n\nChildren are violent for the same reasons adults are violent.  Rage, Anger, Hatred, Ignorance, Fear etc...
1118942
It really does depend on the crime and the particular youth involved.   Infancy, the legal term referring to minors under the age of 18 in most states, is considered a legal disability.   A blanket rule calling for adult treatment of all 17 year old criminals would be dangerous.  It's important to consider whether the minor offender was mature enough to have formed the intent required to commit a crime, whether he or she understood the nature and consequences of his or her act, and the nature and circumstances of the crime (was it heinous, premeditated, etc).  With nothing more, it would be impossible to say that 17 year olds in general should be held accountable as adults.
847383
If you were an adult when this occurred, yes.  It should also show whether or not you were found guilty.
1047064
In California the law says a minor child reaches majority at age 18.  So freedom to do those things you asked about happens at that point, unless the child emancipates before their 18th birthday. \n\nCriminal liability and being tried as an adult happens to minors as young as 14 years of age when they meet the appropriate criteria and have committed a serious and violent felony as described by our law.    So, being tried "as an adult" in criminal courts is about being consequenced because of the severity of the offense and the intent with which it was committed.
915007
No. He should be jailed for child endangerment and assault on a child.
718334
He committed the crime because he was given the opportunity to earn more money than his parents just by riding his bike (simplified, but true).\n\nI think he should be put in Juvie, and released when he is 18.  Kids do screw up, but I don't think a screw up should ruin his entire life.
267103
Yep, I think there should be a law that if you are guilty of aggravated assault on a child under 10 you should get the death penalty.  It seems like other crimes ie murder, drug etc under specific circumstantces I could be capable of these things, and I think I am a reasonable human being but child molestation? I don't have in me to do that. People that do are special type a of deviant. Some will say that they can't help it or that its similar to homosexuality, meaning that it was considered against nature until recently and that people can not help who they are 'attracted' to. But this is bulls hit; children will never have the mental matureness to consent to sex. Adults do. They have free will and should make appropriate decisions.  Castration is an option but there are plenty of ways to violate a child without a penis. Life terms, what's the point, just wasting money, and rehibilatation does not seem to work. I wish everyone would stop being so PC and bending over backwards protecting the civil rights of criminals. As a society we need to protect our weakest members. A day doesn't pass by that I don't read about a child molestation somewhere in America, the more we hear about it the more normal it seems and this is a dangerous place to be as a 'civilized' nation.
673077
i think each state should be mandated to try teenages as an adult, with no parole, no bail and a daily schedule made up for them in the institute that are assigned to. make it more military than just a sentence until they get out. they do not what is requested of them like the military they are punished again and again until they learn. it only takes 1 kid to kill someone and devastate a family.