In modern society, the punishment for criminals varies according to their age. Juvenile offenders can be subject to different types of punishment than those applied to adults. The general consensus is that young people have a greater chance of rehabilitation than adult criminals, thus, their punishment should be more lenient.
In fact, offenses committed by minors should not be lightly punished. Instead, the punishment should be adapted to their age, and appropriate corrective measures should be applied. One of the most useful methods of rehabilitation for young offenders is learning the rules of behavior. Proper behavior should teach them to be responsible (Kubek et al., 2020). In addition, law enforcement professionals can use preventive measures such as social programs to help them better understand the rules and the consequences of their actions.
Agnew and Brezina’s research on juvenile delinquency focus on both individual-level and structural-level explanations of delinquency. At the individual level, they emphasize how parenting, peer influences, impulsivity, poor self-control, and sensation-seeking can lead to delinquent behavior. At the structural level, they focus on how structural factors such as poverty, neighborhood disadvantage, and social disorganization can lead to delinquency (Agnew & Brezina, 2017). To address delinquency, they recommend a combination of individual-level interventions, such as parent training, cognitive behavioral therapy, and mentoring programs, and structural-level interventions, such as crime prevention initiatives and community development programs.
Krisberg argues that juvenile delinquency is a complex problem that is best addressed through an integrated, multi-faceted approach. According to Krisberg, there is no single cause or solution to juvenile delinquency, but rather a variety of factors that interact to create the risk of delinquent behavior. These include personal, family, school, and community factors (Krisberg, 2017). He suggests that juvenile delinquency can be prevented by solving basic issues, such as poverty, lack of educational opportunities, and neighborhood disorganization, rather than simply punishing the offender.
In general, the punishment for criminals should be tailored to their age and their need for rehabilitation. Such measures will help them understand the consequences of their actions and lead them to more reasonable decisions instead of just applying harsh punishment. Such lenient punishments may also be beneficial for adults, but considering that young people have not yet formed an understanding of the consequences of their actions, they should be subject to more lenient punishment.
References
Agnew, R., & Brezina, T. (2017). Juvenile delinquency: Causes and control. New York: Oxford University Press.
Krisberg, B. A. (2017). Juvenile justice and delinquency. SAGE Publications.
Kubek, J. B., Tindall-Biggins, C., Reed, K., Carr, L. E., & Fenning, P. A. (2020). A systematic literature review of school reentry practices among youth impacted by juvenile justice. Children and Youth Services Review, 110, 104773.