Cristina Torres Task #3
October 10, 2013 Age, Crime and Responsibility

The society we live in the US is a very open minded and democratic one. In a society where all mean and women are treated equally, where everybody has the same freedom, laws they have to live by and consequences for breaking a law. Following this logic one can infer that no matter what age an individual, all citizens are seen as equal under the law. But in concerns of children and teens is where the law is blurred and brings controversial topics to debate. The government has tried to best qualify the age at where a person is at an age where they no longer are considered minors, but adults. But then there are special cases where a minor commits crimes most commonly committed by adults, and creates issues and concerns when a court of law tries to give a punishment. At any age an individual should be held responsible for whatever crime committed, if a minor, parents should also be held responsible. Being a firm believer in equality and treating everyone the same, within reason. At any age a person should be held responsible for any crime they have committed. The sentencing of the crime itself should depend more of the age, mental state and how mature the minor is. It would not be reasonable to give a minor at the age of ten years old the same punishment an adult would be given. A person at the age of ten is not seen as mature and capable of thinking and making the same decisions as an adult would. But this reason of age alone would not fully justify letting a minor without punishment, as they have done something against the law. Some kind of consequence must be sentenced by a court of law. The punishment sentenced for a minor should be based off the seriousness of the crime and the outcome in the end. If a minor commits a crime along the lines of rape, murder, and armed robbery, they should be tried as adults in court of law. Just as adults, a minor knows the difference between right and wrong. By the time kids are in elementary school they all know right from wrong to a certain degree. Crimes as the ones listed are all taught by society that they are morally wrong, and an action one should not do. From the age one becomes old enough to comprehend between right from wrong, a minor by using process of elimination should be able to comprehend what they should and should not do. A minor is taught