In my opinion, it is vital to remember that teenage brains are still not completely developed. The two areas in which this is most necessary are education and the criminal justice system. I work with high school, college, and adult students. It seems like a natural grouping and, to an extent, it is. However, they are three very different groups. High school students are more likely to be impulsive and quick to jump into a conversation and participate. They are more likely to be late or miss appointments. Along with that, they are more likely to try new things, to come up with more creative and innovative solutions, and to make intellectual leaps. My adult students come with experience and self control. They think out ideas before sharing them and they almost always show up to class on time or least let me know before hand. They are generally hardworking, reward-driven students. College students are in transition. They will likely be mature in some area and not in others.
In criminal justice, it is important to remember the differences between teenagers and adults because young lives are at stake. Teenagers are more impulsive, more socially influenced, and more likely to take risks. They are less able to understand the consequences of their actions and less able to make logical, rather than emotional, decisions. I believe that juvenile laws and penalties should apply to all offenders 25 and under, no matter the offence. These young people are especially salvageable; they are not yet hardened criminals with a lot of life experience and fully formed opinions. Penalties for breaking the law at a young age should be focused on rehabilitation and the development of self-discipline, not about punishment or separation from society.
Does that mean we should not be giving adult responsibilities to teenagers? No! This is how you learn. As a society, we have a duty to our youth to teach them how to be adults. At certain points in life, we increase a young persons responsibilities. And it starts at a very early age. How old were you when your mother started letting you walk down a street without holding her hand? She didn't want to do that. She knew you were safer if you held her hand the whole time, but you were old enough to take on that responsibility and she knew that she had to teach you to be independent. The best way to teach responsibility and independence is to give it and be there as a safety net.
I hope this helps you. Good luck.
