One argument in favor of equal punishments is that young people who commit crimes are led to the same consequences as those of adults. In my perspective, I completely endorse this statement because crime is crime after all, and victims should get justice for crimes committed against them.
Victims should get justice irrespective of the crime committed against them. The allegations should be imposed strictly by the victim for the consequences against the culprit. This is because young adults should know what is wrong and what is right while committing a crime. The threat of punishment is necessary in society and among young people to deter serious crimes and its consequences. For instance, there was a 17-year-old boy in my town punished for committing a robbery crime of gold in his neighborhood and was punished for the same, which became a lesson to all the youths which allowed them to think twice or thrice before committing any crime.
However, rehabilitation may be more effective than strict punishment in cases involving less serious offences, particularly those committed without deliberate intent. This is because next generation is still developing and have much of their lives ahead of them, including opportunities to pursue education and build successful careers. Rather than imposing excessively harsh penalties, authorities should focus on helping young offenders understand their mistakes and change behaviour. Therefore, appropriate rehabilitation programmes may reduce the likelihood of reoffending and give minors an opportunity to become responsible members of society.
In conclusion, although minor individual offenders should be held accountable for their crimes, it’s punishment should depend on the seriousness of the offence, age, and the circumstances.