Teenage offenders should be treated the same way as adult criminals for illegal activities has always been a topic of discussion. While many people would agree with this approach, I strongly disagree with this approach. I disagree with treating teenagers and adults with same manner in the criminal justice system.
Firstly, teenagers are not fully developed in regard of mentality and emotionality. Numerous studies indicates that teenagers often act abrubtly and are not able to judge the long term consequences of their actions. Furthermore, punishing them as adults will not be appropriate as it will overlook the differences in maturity between two groups.
Secondly, the primary goal of our justice system should be rehabilitation. Teenagers have a greater capacity for change and improvement compared to adults. According to me, our justice system should have rehabilitaion programs such as education, counselling and community services. This will be more effective for teenage offenders than long prison sentences.
However, it must be acknowledged that in extreme cases, strict measures may be necessary to ensure public safety. Even so, these decisions should be made accoding to the case with careful evaluation and legal consideration.
In conclusion, while there are rare exceptions, teenage offenders should not be treated the same way as adult criminals. According to me, many teenagers can reform and become responsible members of society.