Legal systems of various countries are often under constant scrutiny and subject to change. In their attempts to create the most just legal system, politicians often put forward an idea that young offenders should be punished less severely than older ones. While the reasoning behind this proposition is sound, such policies would undermine the very fairness of legal system and might lead to some more serious consequences.
On the one hand, there are several reasons that justify mitigated punishments for young criminals. One of them is that even petty punishments, such as a short imprisonment, can be life-ruining for a young person. This is because the early years of adult life are often foundational period for the rest of life, and these years are when young people develop their personal and professional skills by interacting with peers and attending universities. For example, if a man is imprisoned for shoplifting in his early twenties, it would cost him the opportunity to gain qualification, potentially rendering him irrelevant in the modern and demanding job market. The other reason worth mentioning for softer punishments is that, often, young offenders commit crimes unconsciously without having full control over their actions or considering the possible consequences. They might engage in criminal activity under the influence of alcoholic substances or be unaware that their actions are, in fact, illegal. This can be explained by the lack of life experience of young people, and judges are often expected to take these factors into account.
Nevertheless, the scales of justice must be equal for everyone to maintain stability in society. If a certain group of people, namely young adults, were given privileges in the legal system, that would lead to dissatisfaction of other groups. In other words, the members of older generation might demand universality of legal code, meaning that they should have the same legal status as their younger counterparts. If such demands were left unaddressed, this might lead to protests and social unrest. Moreover, less severe punishments can undermine their effectiveness as a crime deterrent. The fear of being punished prevents many would-be criminals from committing crimes, and reducing severity of punishments can result in increase in crime rates among young people. Arguably, many of them would likely to turn to crime, knowing that there would not be serious consequences for their actions.
To conclude, although the concept of granting young people legal privileges might seem the right thing to do, this action would cause division in society and possibly rise in crime rates. Therefore, it is essential that adults have the equal legal status regardless of their age.