Should young criminals (under 18) be sent to prison?

[rehman]

such childreh whose age is equal or above 12 years and commit the crime may be given punishment because today's childre are intelligent, consious and more responsible as compare to two decades back of children..... but in some particular cases they may be exmpted as in minor crime but if they commit a henous crime as rape or murder must be punished according to states law and punish should be that which is entitled as a young.......

[martinohare]

Very serious crimes committed by young criminals should result in prison sentences.

The fact remains that there are exceptionally dangerous criminals who need punishment and treatment. However,the latter is not looked upon that significantly - the result often causes troubled minds to become exceedingly warped.

The prison service is often underfunded and the calibre of people working there is often unsatisfactory due to the level of provision that authorities give to the prison service.

There is a whole swave of young criminals who could have been rehabilitated by means of a balance between punishment and tretment in prisons. Getting the balance right would lead to the majority of young offenders being reintegrated into society. Alas the present system causes them to be stigmatised,hardened and embittered by the nature of the custodial sentence. Reoffence rates are disturbingly high.

[gerard]

I think don't need..because that will make their mind set more worse than before..every people born with kindness..they become bad person because the environment and their parent doesn't care about them..I think the best solution is take them to "the kindness club" which is they can learn how to care people, learn how to live with kindness & useful for many people

[sweethuman]

Yes they should be sent to prison for commiting any sin or crime however the range/limit of punishment should vary from the elders/Adults.

[cassyN]

I think it depends on what they have done. Teens still need to have an education but still they also need to pay for the crime they committed for them to learn from their mistakes. In a recent study of adolescents and teenagers, one group of scientists has found that by the age of 23, up to 41 percent of people have been imprisoned. These arrests could suggest an increase in criminal behavior, or a willingness of law enforcement to arrest younger people. Article source: Up to 41 percent of 23 year olds have been arrested at least once

[tandvictor]

Yes and even they commit a dead crime, they should be given to death!

[[james]]

I think an juvenile below age of 18 should not be sent to the prison except for conviction of murder and rape. Sentence for an juvenile should be focused on rehabilitation.

[Ilove]

I think to respond to this we need some clearer guidlines on what this underage child did.
Lets ask a few uncomftorble questions. Did the teen murder classmates parents, or maybe they raped a child younger then them. I am not taking either side at this point and i could be convinced to go either way.

I work as a youth councelor with teens and I see the real things that happen. So lets just say the teen raped another child. Jail Or Not?

Hello teen counselor,
I admire the fact that you are helping teens. =)
You asked a great question. It depends on the person who wants to help the teen rapist or not. I want to help him or her, so I will not send the teen to jail. If I were you, I would help them and/or refer them to other helpful, effective teen rapist facilities for repentance and rehabilitation. =)

[dianayamazaki]

I think instead of sending them to prison, it's better to put them in rehabilitation center. As punishment, they can do social works. Therefore, prison won't bring nightmare to their youth life.

[flowra]

hi,
that's my first post but I like the topic
anyway
I don't think young criminals should be sent to prison
because it'll increase criminal thinking in them
they must sent to psychologist to treat them and understand why they do crime
of course everyone have a reason to do crime especially the youth
so we must treat them before punish them
that's my opinion :)
and thanks for the topic
Bye