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Well, no, at least for most crimes.There is scientific proof that the people below the age of 18(or sometimes more) use the amygdala, the part of the brain responsible for emotions, impulses, aggression and instinctive behavior, rather than their prefrontal cortex, the part responsible for logic and reasoning, most of the time:While the amygdala is fully developed at birth, the prefrontal cortex does not mature until early adulthood. Because of this, children and adolescents do not always make rational decisions and cannot always control their emotions.The amygdala: a full brain integrator in the face of fearThe very reason that juvenile courts were originally created in the nineteenth century was because society recognized that juveniles did not have the cognitive development that adults had, would benefit more from rehabilitative services to prevent recidivism, and needed more protections.Even if you think a sixteen year old should be smart enough to know full well what the consequences of their actions would be, that isn’t all there is to be considered. Science disagrees, for one.Moreover, most juveniles aren’t arrested for violent first degree murder. The majority of convicted juveniles are arrested for arson, burglary, robbery, motor vehicle theft, liquor law violations, drug abuse, vandalism, disorderly conduct and assaults(research shows that juveniles are more likely to get into fights).[1]You also have to ask the question, “Are juveniles who go through the adult court system “deterred” from future crime.”? After all, punishments are given to prevent the crime from being committed again, not to hurt someone because he deserves it.Well, a comprehensive review was completed by the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) School of Law’s Juvenile Justice Project in July 2010 that reviewed the impact of juvenile cases prosecuted in adult court. The report, (The Impact of Prosecuting Youth in the Criminal Justice System: A Review of the Literature), ultimately found that there has been little to no deterrent effect on juveniles prosecuted in adult court, and in many states, recidivism rates have actually increased.Statistics compiled from 15 states revealed that juveniles prosecuted in adult court and released from state prisons were rearrested 82 percent of the time, while their adult counterparts were rearrested 16 percent less. Meanwhile, studies have shown that juveniles prosecuted in juvenile court benefit from the services made available to them through that process, as juvenile institutions provide programs and resources specifically designed for juvenile development. Juveniles in adult court often do not have the opportunity to acquire critical skills, competencies, and experiences that are crucial to their success as adults; rather, they are subject to an environment in which adult criminals become their teachers.-an excerpt from the study.Studies also say that juveniles are most at risk of fragile mental health and depression.[2]A large percentage of the factors accounting for juvenile crime are fractured families, peer pressure, physical and sexual abuse, teenage parents, poverty, lack of community involvement and activities, substance abuse, and failure in school, according to research.[3]So, in conclusion, I say juveniles need resources to equip them to succeed when they are released from juvenile facilities, rather than face the devastating effects of being housed in adult prison systems. They should be treated as juveniles in the court justice system, with a focus on rehabilitating rather than simply punishing.Footnotes[1] What Are Juveniles Typically Arrested For? | Moses and Rooth Attorneys at Law | Orlando, Florida[2] Depression among Gen Z is skyrocketing — a troubling mental-health trend that could affect the rest of their lives[3] What Are Juveniles Typically Arrested For? | Moses and Rooth Attorneys at Law | Orlando, Florida