How are we as a society supposed to act when a child or a teenager commits a criminal offence? Do we treat them as if they were adults? But, when exactly is the line crossed from being deviant, to being a criminal? Is it in the child's DNA which makes them a criminal, or is it the environment in which they are raised that determines their outcome.
How does an innocent child learn to be deviant? Think of a child as a blank chalkboard, as the child begins to grow, and different events begin to occur, the chalkboard begins to fill up with specific learnt characteristics which makes the child who they are. Whether these characteristics are bad or good, they have been learnt somewhere along the line. As soon as a child begins to witness deviant or criminal behaviour, it is automatically assumed that this behaviour is normal. In my opinion, criminal behaviour has to have been learnt somewhere or by someone. However, there is the other question whether this kind of behaviour is genetic. Researchers agree on the point that genes influence personality traits and disorders. There is no doubt that disorders that could potentially cause this type of behaviour is genetic (Personality disorders, or anti-social issues). Researchers also agree that there is an environmental component to this issue. The family environment is definitely crucial to the upbringing of a child and if serious problems exist (Such as, sexual abuse or violence) then the child will be more likely to act out when they become adults.
"When children are in preschool and show aggressive tendencies towards their peers, they will likely be deemed as an outcast. This creates poor peer relationships and relegates those children to be with others who share similar behaviours."
This quote shows how children, even from a very early age quickly learn their "place" in the world. If they feel like an outcast even from a very early age, this feeling will continue to grasp this child all the way through adulthood which could very likely lead to rebellion.
What should we as a society do in the face of this very important social issue? In todays law, if children are caught doing a crime, they would be sent to Juvenile Court. Is this the right way our society should handle this issue? Should we try and rehabilitate the children who have committed these crimes? Or should we treat them as if it were an adult who committed the crime, because a "crime is a crime". I believe that very young children should not be charged with their first offence, instead they should be sent to a mandatory rehabilitation center which will use therapy and other techniques to make sure this child would not become a repeat offender. However, it is very important if a child or a teen commits a murder or any other type of extreme offence, then there is no question that this child should be sentenced to jail time. We would never want murders or any other type of severe criminals to be roaming our streets.
In conclusion, I believe that children simply learn criminal behaviour. If they are not taught, then they will never know. We are brought up to understand that lying, cheating and stealing are all unacceptable behaviours, however there are some who are never taught these valuable lessons, therefore they don't necessarily know what is right from wrong. Circumstance may push an individual to break the law but in order to be an habitual criminal it would seem that a person's genetic make-up, and upbringing has a lot to do with it.
