Topic: A recent newspaper article reports that a 14-year-old boy who seriously destroyed his school was punished by cleaning streets instead of being sent to prison. Do you think this is right, or should young criminals be sent to jail?
Juvenile crime is a sensitive issue that demands careful consideration of the balance between punishment and rehabilitation. I believe that giving young offenders, like the 14-year-old boy in this case, community service rather than a prison sentence is the right approach, as it offers an opportunity for reform without exposing them to the potentially harmful environment of incarceration.
Firstly, community service allows young offenders to reflect on their actions and make amends. Cleaning streets or engaging in other constructive tasks instills a sense of responsibility and helps them understand the consequences of their behavior. In contrast, sending juveniles to prison can have adverse effects. Prisons often expose young individuals to hardened criminals, increasing the risk of negative influences and reducing the likelihood of rehabilitation.
Secondly, rehabilitation-focused punishments can benefit society in the long term. Juveniles have a higher capacity for change compared to adults, and non-custodial sentences can help them reintegrate into society as law-abiding citizens. For instance, counseling and educational programs combined with community service can address underlying issues such as poor upbringing or peer pressure that contribute to criminal behavior.
However, it is also important to ensure that the punishment fits the severity of the crime. For extremely violent or repeated offenses, stricter measures might be necessary to protect society.
In conclusion, community service is an effective and fair punishment for young offenders in most cases. It prioritizes rehabilitation over retribution, fostering personal growth and reducing recidivism.
•Juvenile crime: crimes committed by young people.
•Young offenders: minors who have committed a crime.
•Community service: a form of punishment that involves performing unpaid work for the community.
•Prison sentence: punishment where someone is sent to jail.
•Incarceration: being confined in prison.
•Custodial sentence: punishment that involves being detained in a correctional facility.
•Rehabilitation: the process of reforming an offender to prevent future crimes.
•Retribution: punishment inflicted as vengeance for a crime.
•Recidivism: the tendency of a convicted criminal to reoffend.
•Reflect on their actions: to think deeply about what they have done.
•Sense of responsibility: understanding and accepting accountability for one’s actions.
•Make amends: to compensate or correct a wrong action.
•Underlying issues: deeper problems or causes behind behavior.
•Reintegrate into society: to help someone become a functional part of the community again.
•Constructive tasks: positive and beneficial activities.
•Severity of the crime: how serious the offense is.
•Negative influences: harmful impacts or role models.
•Law-abiding citizens: people who follow the law.
•Capacity for change: the ability to improve or reform oneself.
•Adverse effects: negative outcomes or consequences.
•Fostering personal growth: encouraging self-improvement and development.