Minor is not any excuse from punishment
Published on HivePostify by @cindynancy · Sun Aug 23 2026
We always find it hard when a minor commits a crime because they have not gotten to the age where they will be held accountable for their actions. It is always hard for society to decide; they feel pity, but the person who commits the crime is just a minor. Some questions the society asks itself: Should this minor be tried as a child, or should the child face the same trial as an adult? The question is very complicated.
This prompt made me flashback to what happened in a community next to my own: a minor murdered her mom. The community couldn’t do much because the child was not up to age. Of late, people have been debating, and some are of the opinion that when a case is so serious, the offender should be able to face the same consequences as an adult. The argument is that a person’s age should not completely erase responsibility for crime. I so much believe that accountability is everybody's business, regardless of your age.
Holding a minor accountable does not mean that the society will treat the minor the same way an adult is treated. They are still growing children; they are not able to control some certain things, they can’t make decisions, and they may not think about long-term consequences. These minors are always influenced by peer groups, family, or the environment they exist in.
For me, the best that can be done for this minor is to take them to rehabilitation. A minor who made a mistake, a serious mistake, may still change, learn, and become a responsible member in society. The society should not just focus on punishment alone because if the only focus is on punishment, they will miss the opportunity to address and correct the minors' behavior.
In as much as these kids are taken to rehabilitation, that doesn’t mean their crime should be ignored or pretended as if nothing happened. To be honest, the victims and their families deserve justice; there must be consequences for every crime, but the question is what type of punishment should be placed on minors.
Decisions about minors should be made carefully. How serious the offense is, the maturity and age of the person, and the role they played in the incident should be considered. It doesn’t mean making excuses, but rather making sure that justice is revealed.
The society should be more focused on preventing the youth from crimes before they happen. Minors who commit crimes should not be excused because of their age being young; it shouldn’t mean that minors should be free when they commit crimes. They should also be held accountable.
What we should look out for is how to bring balance between justice and accountability.
This is my response to the weekly prompt #hl-w231e3 topic juvenile justice.
All images are generated with ChatGPT.
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