Some people believe that the punishment for the younger generation should be the same as that for adults when they commit serious crimes. However, I completely disagree with this perspective. Firstly, it is highly unlikely that young individuals fully understand the consequences of their actions. Furthermore, they are too young to waste their valuable time in courts and jails instead of being in school.
While people of all ages may commit crimes, for teenagers, these actions might arise from misunderstanding or a lack of knowledge about the potential outcomes. Therefore, it would be unjust to penalize them according to the same rules and laws that apply to adults who intentionally break the law and understand the repercussions of their actions. A recent survey conducted in Iran found that 70% of criminals under the age of 17 did not anticipate the disastrous consequences of their actions before committing them.
Additionally, sentencing young people to prison means removing them from their educational environment, where they can form healthy relationships and learn skills that could benefit their future. Being in school has been shown to have a positive impact on young people and broaden their horizons. For instance, an article published by Tehran University revealed that 50% of the teenagers who had been imprisoned for less than a year expressed a desire to return to school, believing that education was the only path to building a healthy life.
In conclusion, I firmly believe that punishing young individuals who commit crimes according to adult laws is not the right approach. Such measures create a significant barrier between them and their education, while also damaging their social relationships, which are crucial for cognitive development. Moreover, crimes committed at this age may often result from misunderstanding, and imposing harsh punishments reflects poor judgment.