Juveniles Need to Be Tried as an Adult

uveniles committing violent crimes should be tried as adults

When one hears of a criminal who has committed a violent crime, one does not usually conjure up images of a person with whom he or she would like to spend a lot of time. This is because the person described is a criminal, one who has the mindset of committing a violent offense. No matter the age of the criminal, he or she would be nonetheless a rather unappealing companion. "Violent crime" is defined by the Department of Justice as "homicide, rape, aggravated assault, robbery, and assault". These are all actions that sound horrible and reap even more horrible consequences. Unfortunately, there is a growing trend of juvenile violence; even "children" under 16 are committing these heinous acts. It is of my assertion that anyone who commits a violent crime needs to be prosecuted in the same manner, hence that minors must be prosecuted as adults. Juvenile crime is a serious and growing epidemic. The figures for juveniles committing crimes that are serious, heterogeneous, or non-serious mirror those of offenders between the ages of eighteen and twenty (U.S. Department of Justice/ FBI fact file). Any study can show the same facts- that youth violence and criminal acts are on the rise. These must be punished. The causes or signs of risk of teen violence can be shown in many factors: violent media, bullying, depression, being an outcast, fascination with guns or death, society's opinion, and teenage mood swings.