The law on criminal punishment states that the ultimate decision regarding the jailing of an individual is left to the decision of a judge. In certain circumstances, criminals under the age of 18 are sent to juvenile jail. Meaning the age of 18 indicates a difference between an adult and a juvenile. With this said, persons above the age of 18 that commit a crime cannot receive the treatment of a juvenile. Therefore all adults must be more responsible with their actions. Also, if a juvenile were to commit a severe enough crime they would be punished to the degree an adult would. I am included in this law, and that I would no longer receive the punishment of a juvenile. This increases the responsibility I must exhibit on a daily basis. With the notion of severe punishment of a crime, adults must smarten up. I believe that this is an effective law because individuals are not sure what punishment they might receive. Therefore, at the age of 18, an individual is truly a person because they can receive punishment to the full extent of the law. This law concerts well with others such as voting, fighting, marriage, etc. because they establish 18 years of age as the basis for adulthood responsibility and a true person.
This law relates to the Vindication of the Rights of Men because it relates to age differences. In a Vindication, Wollstonecraft analyzes Burke’s opinion of the difference between child and adult. This relates to the law because the form of punishment is all based upon whether the judge believes the criminal has committed a crime worthy of adult or juvenile punishment.
Due to the lack of a set age of the law of criminal punishment, this law forces individuals to act as a true person rather than have their actions determined by a specific age. Though the age of 18 is a very influential age for criminal responsibility, persons must have to act like a mature, responsible person to not commit a crime worthy of punishment.
Resources
1) "Constitution of the United States - Official." National Archives and Records Administration. Web. 09 Nov. 2010. <http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/charters/constitution.html>.
2)"Should PCSOs Have Handcuffs?" P.C.S.O.com • Index Page. Web. 09 Nov. 2010. <http://www.policecommunitysupportofficer.com/online.html>.—Handcuff Image
3) "Juvenile Offenders and Victims: National Report Series National Criminal Justice Reference Service. Web. 09 Nov. 2010. <http://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/ojjdp/191031.pdf -- Statistics and Link to PDF with statistics of other categories
4)"Online Library of Liberty - A Vindication of the Rights of Men." Online Library of Liberty - Front Page. Web. 09 Nov. 2010. <http://oll.libertyfund.org/index.php?option=com_staticxt&staticfile=show.php?title=991&Itemid=28>.
5) Category, By. Crime and Punishment Home Page. Web. 09 Nov. 2010. <http://crime.about.com/>.—Story of criminal punishment
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