Nowadays, juvenile delinquency rates are on the rise, with a view that they should receive the same punishments as adults. Although crimes that young offenders commit are as violent as those of adults, I believe a balanced approach like a rehabilitation program rather than severe punishing systems should address the problem.
Some may argue that holding young offenders to the same standards ensures accountability. In other words, an equal treatment may serve as a deterrent to discourage juvenile delinquents from engaging in criminal activities since it offers a sufficiently serious threat. For instance, in some jurisdictions, trying young offenders as adults with draconian punishments led to a significant decrease in such offences. Thus, treating young offenders in the same way as adults plays a major role in preventing them from committing a crime.
However, severe punishments are not always effective, given that they may eventually lead to a recidivism, meaning harsh ways of punishing young offenders do not prevent them from reoffending in the future. The best solution would be to apply rehabilitating programs where young criminals are educated, equipping them with a moral mindset. This allows them to be reintegrated into society, which ensures their pursuit of a normal life. Consider the example of the Norway’s rehabilitation programs where the lowest recidivism rates were observed all around the world. Therefore, rehabilitating juvenile delinquents helps them grow up to be law-abiding members of a society.
In conclusion, even though harsh penalties on juvenile delinquents may help them to a particular extent, I believe rehabilitating programs offer more advantages, fostering a sense of morality rather than mere punishments.