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YouDebateIt.com -- Juveniles charged with violent crimes should be tried and punished as adults.
Topic: Juveniles charged with violent crimes should be tried and punished as adults.

Which do you prefer #1 or #2?
Vote below for the better argument.
Opinion #1
Debater: Madame_Prez
Don't do the crime if you can't do the time.
My opponent states that they are "only juveniles", so should we treat them differently even though they've committed the same act as an adult? They also state that juveniles need someone to talk to & understand them, but isn't that why many crimes happen both as adults & juveniles- mis-communication & mis-understanding? Okay, so let's go along with this; IF juveniles had someone there for them in the first place, then there wouldn't be any reasons for juveniles to commit such 'violent crimes'. It's not whether or not juveniles should be given a second chance because they're so young, but it's preventing them from committing these crimes IN THE FIRST PLACE, not waiting until it is too late to try & change them. If juveniles can take on the responsibility of an action that they know just as well as adults that it is wrong, then it is only just that they take on the responsibility of accepting the consequences. They need to be helped before they act- NOT after...
Opinion #2
Debater: doubleX
Adults and juveniles should not be treated the same
Juveniles cannot drink, they cannot vote, they cannot do many things that an adult can do. Why? It is because of the fact that a teen is too immature to make a wise decision to drink safely or to vote properly. If a juvenile is not given these rights, then it is unjust to charge them as an adult if they commit a crime. If a juvenile commits a crime, he should still be seen as too immature to make the "right" decision, since he cannot vote or drink for this reason. Surely that juvenile should not be held as responsible as a mature adult because THEY DIDN'T KNOW ANY BETTER. The adult that CAN vote and an adult KNOWS what they are doing, now don't they? Us kids are just too stupid to know what's wrong-- it's not fair to hold a double standard on us.
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