In many parts of the world, children and teenagers are committing more crimes. Why is this case happening? How should children or teenagers be punished?

It is true that there is an increasing number of underage criminals in some parts of the world.

This

trend can stem from some reasons, and I firmly believe that adolescents should receive an equivalent punishment if they repeatedly commit crimes or carry out heinous crimes. On the one hand, there are two main reasons why more children have a tendency to break the law at their early age. The bottom line is the lack of parental guidance and moral education

from

Suggestion

for

of

teachers. Nowadays, parents are inclined to too lenient with their offspring’s unacceptable

behaviors

manner of acting or controlling yourself

behaviours

behaviour

. Meanwhile, teachers only focus on their students’ scholastic performance and neglect delivering ethical lessons.

Therefore

,

this

shortcoming in education can give rise to juveniles' unexpected

offenses

a line of approach

avenues

.

Moreover

, the wall-to-wall media coverage of extreme criminal

behaviors

manner of acting or controlling yourself

behaviours

that children approach can

also

contribute to

this

trend. While immature children are easily susceptible to anything they deem to be mysterious to them, the sensational news about heinous crimes can incite them to emulate the ex-perpetrators to satisfy their curiosity.

On the other hand

, I would argue that children and teenagers only should receive an appropriate discipline if they commit a vicious crime or for the

second

time. It is obvious that some

first

-time underage criminals have no understanding of the consequences of their

misbehaviors

improper or wicked or immoral behavior

misbehaviour

.

Therefore

, giving them softer penalty could be enough to prevent them from doing

further

harm to the society.

However

, if these juvenile delinquents keep crossing the bottom line of the legal system, there is little reason to protect them from a harsh punishment. So no matter how young they are, breaking the law seriously for the

second

time, like drug trafficking, deserves a harsh penalty. In conclusion, an insufficient education and adverse effects of media contribute to

this

trend; and I hold a conviction that adolescents should incur equivalent punishment depending on each situation.