There is a volume of offenders punished strictly, many people suppose that juvenile delinquents should be disciplined as same as other crimes. I am afraid that punishing minors equally with other lawbreaking people may lead to some disadvantages in the development of teenagers and consequences in the future.
To begin with, living in prison at a young age instead of in reform school may lead to more violent changes in juvenile behavior. Serious criminals and cruel punishments may leave a negative impression on their minds. Moreover, after witnessing and interacting with other law-breakers, with the lack of full awareness, juveniles may follow lawbreaking adults to be more violent and easier to relapse after release from jail. Therefore, not only the number of young offenders does not decline, but they also get more severe.
Additionally, a criminal record also inhibits the rehabilitation of young offenders. The opportunity to have a job of a juvenile is scarce, especially a white-collar job when most employers restrict applicants who have a bad background. Furthermore, many prisoners who have completed their term struggle to interact with society when they have to bear the discrimination and peer pressure. For a classic detail, numerous prisoners after release from prison often only stay at home because of having low self-esteem and being jobless.
On the other hand, punishing adults is still calculated as a way to restrict juvenile delinquency. Thanks to strict discipline offenders raise awareness to become a good person. However, this method is too violent for teenagers and negatively affects their mindset and behavior. Therefore, reforming schools and separate laws for minors is necessary.
In conclusion, I suppose that every criminal must be punished based on the consequences. However, living in prison is not a good way to discipline and educate young people to recognize their criminal behaviors due to their lack of understanding and reckless thoughts. Moreover, it may lead to negative development of teenagers and some troubles after release from prison.