Source A
Teen, Yarvis. Informed Decision. Atlanta: G.T., 2010. Print.
Teen, Yarvis. Informed Decision. Atlanta: G.T., 2010. Print.
The following paragraph is from a book about making intelligent decisions.
Criminalizing children harms their
development and makes the situation worse. Being labeled as a criminal at a
very young age is unlikely to lead to a better understanding of right and
wrong. Instead, a child who does not understand the wrongfulness of what they
have done may feel unjustly treated and feel bitter toward society. Or the
child might simply accept the label of being criminal and resign themselves to
it. Children who are labeled criminals are also likely to be treated worse by
those around them, such as teachers or other parents, separating them from
society. In addition, those sent to prison or young offender institutes are cut
off from their friends and family and develop friendships with other criminals,
possibly even sharing ideas about crimes. All of these reactions are likely to
make the child’s situation worse and increase the chance of future criminal
behavior.
