It is sometimes believed that young individuals who commit serious offences should receive the same punishment as adult criminals. Personally, I strongly disagree with this statement because adolescents may not have the same developed perception as adults, and harsh sentences can lead to reoffenders in the future.
The first argument behind my belief is that young people cannot have the same knowledge and experiences as adults. This is because adolescents’ brains are not yet fully developed, meaning that they cannot judge right from wrong as clearly as adults can. This matters especially for underprivileged teenagers, who are unlikely to access adequate education, thereby easily breaking the law without considering possible consequences. For instance, many adolescents are manipulated to murder or consume drugs by adults, not because they really want to harm other people.
Another possible point is that young criminals may reoffend after harsh punishment. When receiving the same sentences as adults, including long-term imprisonment, teenagers may get exposed to more cruel crimes behind the bars. Therefore, they can imitate those behaviors, which can encourage them to reoffend and can be hard for them to integrate back into community. Instead, rehabilitation programmes can be operated for these young. They are still in the process of shaping their identity and values, thus, it is easier to guide and correct their mindset through counseling, therapy, and vocational training. This can help them to reintegrate into society and contribute useful achievements.
In conclusion, because of their undeveloped perception and the capability of reoffending, I totally disagree with young criminals being punished in the similar way as adults.