A Crime Is a Crime: Age Should Not Eliminate Accountability
The idea of erasing a crime seems like lack of accountability, a license to keep committing crimes because the offender isn't up to a certain age. It's an act of injustice. That is why I'm of the opinion that a child below 18 should also be held accountable for their crime, meant to understand the severity of their crime, and they should also be meant to face the age-appropriate consequences of their crime.
I don't support that their crime should be erased because they are kids. Erasing their crime is a threat to the future and a danger to society and other peers, but rather, they should be rehabilitated, given proper therapy. Also, age-appropriate punishment and proper investigation should be made in their environment and, amongst the adults, they are always around. That's because kids don't act far from influence. Investigating those within their environment is a very important step and should come first. Holding a minor accountable does not mean that they should be punished, but rather realize that there are consequences given when they commit a crime and I believe this will prevent further crimes.
I understand that minors are still growing, developing and learning, but they are offenders of the law regardless of their age. They should also feel the pain of their victims and those affected by their offense. They should face the law fairly, made to understand that the crime committed is against the law.
Forgiving a minor without making them understand that they committed a crime is not a solution. To me, it's letting them go out there with the mindset that they can get away with crimes until they are above 18. That's a license to juvenile crime, but accountability, rehabilitation, and making them understand the consequences of their actions and the pain of the victim will help them understand that for every crime there's a punishment.
I also believe that the way these issues are addressed should be based on the crime committed. A minor who has been caught abusing drugs, trespassing, shoplifting and other minor cases simply needs therapy, rehabilitation and comprehensive attention. This can make a difference, but when it's a case of murder, criminality, homicide, such a crime requires punishment, therapy and rehabilitation, also they should be held accountable like an adult, properly investigated and taken more seriously.
An attempt to erase a crime because it was committed by a child who wasn't meant to feel responsible and accountability is very risky to society.
I believe juvenile crimes are highly influenced by the environment, friends, adults, peer pressure and many other factors. That's why I believe minors should hold a level of accountability, instead of being sentenced to prison and made to face severe charges, they should be rehabilitated, attend proper therapy and trained to be better adults.
Not to justify a minor's crime, but the truth remains that a minor is a developing child and mistakes occur amongst them at that age. Instead of facing charges that could ruin their future, they deserve to be rehabilitated and meant to understand that there's a consequence of committing a crime.
If the crime committed is the most common crime committed by underage people, then erasing should be considered. But if a crime like homicide, murder, violence and the crime shows serious acts of cruelty, then such crimes shouldn't be erased. The child should be held accountable, meant to face the pain of the victim and watched closely, because that's a threat to society. In cases like this, facing trial like an adult would be fair enough.
Also, an investigation is very necessary, because children don't act far from peer pressure, social media influence, what they learn from family, neighbors and even teachers.
You have made a valid point