Angelica Garcia

Mr.Cook
Honors ELA
14 October 2014

There are two main reasons why juvenile offenders should be tried as an adult:
committing murder and being accused of rape.
Juvenile offenders should be tried as adults when they murder someone.
According to the article Juvenile Justice, Colombia is considering allowing the 14-
year-olds to be tried as adults if they are accused of murder, rape, or aggravated bodily
injury. Colombia is an example showing that age does not matter when a crime as
severe as murder is committed. Not being an adult makes a change on what the
sentence is depending on the crime. The statement, he who kills like an adult should
pay like an adult (Roy Barreros). The age of an offender does not matter because a
crime is a crime. Everyone is aware of what their actions are and they should not get
less of a punishment because they have not become an adult (age 18).
Minors should also be tried as an adult if they commit rape. When someone is
being raped, it takes their innocence and dignity away. Why should the juveniles be able
to take innocence and dignity from someone else and not have to pay for their actions?
Juvenile Justice states, In 2007, the Minnesota legislature debated a bill called
Emilys Law to lower the age of someone who could be tried as an adult. Lawmakers
named the bill for a girl who died after being sexually assaulted and thrown against a
wall by a 13-year-old. Emilys Law changed the way many people thought. The 13-
year-old accused of this crime was tried as an adult because of how severe the crime
was against the 2-year-old, Emily.
Others would say that the juvenile offenders are children and they do not know
what they are doing, but they know the difference from right and wrong just as an adult
would.