When Children Commit Adult Crimes: Should the Law Treat Them Differently?

Juvenile Justice!

Some kids are not worthy of receiving juvenile leniency—I mean it. Let's look at a case where a child took a life and, in the courtroom, showed no remorse and was even smiling. That kid would do worse even after leaving the court if granted bail.

Juvenile justice is a very, very sensitive issue and requires critical thinking. I thank God that these days, juveniles are not granted bail just like that. In fact, their cases are treated with care and caution. Some serve more than two years if the case is serious. I think I have heard of a life sentence case.

When someone is labeled a juvenile, he or she is presumed to be immature (aged below 18), and their sentence as well as punishment is usually subjected to a minimal degree in specialized courts instead of adult criminal court. In fact, we call them offenders and not criminals.

However, some still abuse this degree of punishment, but I personally think that such humans have a heart that won't desist. Such humans have a heart of stone. One should not compromise when we notice such a trend.

Let's take a drug case, for example: a child involved in drugs may be subjected to two years' imprisonment, and such a child would also be rehabilitated in Nigeria.

In northern Nigeria, where we have a lot of child terrorists, however most of them were not sentenced to life imprisonment. We heard that they were subjected many processes of detainment and rehabilitation.

This proves that when juveniles face no significant punishment, it sends no important message to others.

To me, children should be subjected to some level of disciplinary actions, and in the case of deliberate murder or acid attack, they should face a scale similar to adults because if they are considered children, adults can pay them to work for them under the notion that they would definitely be freed.

However, if it is because of their ignorance, they can be subjected to juvenile rehabilitation and counselling.

My advce to every family out there

Please, if you are still thinking that children will be granted bail for any crime they commit, then you are wrong.

If you are thinking that you can use your kids to commit hideous crimes in the name of them being juveniles, then you are wrong.

If you kids feel that mum and dad cannot correct you, then you are wrong.

If you think that kids cannot be jailed for life, then you are wrong.

My mum use to say this and I quote!

"Teach a child in the way he should go, so that when he is old, he will not depart from it."

This is what I strongly believe! The family plays an important role in building a good society.

This post is a wake-up call to you and me—to young and old. I have passed my own thoughts to you—share with others.

Much love and thanks for visiting!

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