BEYOND CHILDISH MISCHIEF: THE HARDENED CONSCIENCE OF MODERN JUVENILES

5 days ago

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There is a bible verse that says train up a child in the way he should go, that when he is old, he shall not depart from it (Proverbs 22:6), when a child is trained that there are crimes that he can go Scot free of his offence it gives the child the impression that he can commit the crime at any time without consequences.

A Juvenile may be seen as too young to be punished or to have made mistakes when they are little, to stain their lives forever, but that may not be the case; some juveniles are completely aware of their crimes and will not change even after they become adults. There are a lot of things I did as a child that, when I think of them, I understand that I did them because I lacked a better understanding of how to live a better life. As much as I have that realisation, it so happens that I cannot repeat such things because I understand the grievance of those crimes.

The younger ones now are not willing to work hard to achieve the luxuries of life; they want it easy, and as such, they commit crimes that even some adults of their age have not dared to think of committing. There should be a limit on the crimes by the juveniles could be erased from their record. Let's not put a murderer in a place where others deemed safe just for the murderer to strike again. Some children are already involved in heavier crimes than themselves, crimes that should call for them to be tried as adults and not as juveniles. Cybercrime is now dominated majorly by these juveniles who want to make it big early. Some go as far as committing other crimes of sacrifice that will help them succeed.

As an adult today, I have this conscience that will not allow me to commit some crimes, as my mind will hunt me for the rest of my life, so I am very careful and scared of crime. Some juveniles are already hardened and will commit these crimes without any remorse or as if they have no conscience.

While crimes committed solely by teenagers can sometimes be excused as childish immaturity, serious crimes that adults could be prosecuted for, but are committed by juveniles, must be met with full legal consequences and the record of the crime is not erased. When a young child gets away with a crime, it creates a lasting impression that crime is associated with rewards and no risks, which makes it hard for them to develop a conscience as they grow older. A juvenile who commits an adult-level offence causes harm that is permanently damaging to a victim; age does not diminish the seriousness of the crime. When hardened criminals are mixed with those who have committed minor offences, the more experienced often bully others and sometimes recruit them for more serious crimes.

Thank you for reading. My name is @rishagamo, and this is my response to the Hive Learners weekly Featured Content Week 211 Episode 03: “JUVENILE CRIMES”.