PARENTAL RESPONSIBILITY By: NAME REMOVED Brissman 6 th Period

PRE-RESEARCH REFLECTION I believe that parents should not be held responsible for when their child breaks the law. Parents are not always going to be around to watch what their children are doing and make sure they are following the law, so the child should own up to the crime since it was their choice to commit the crime.

INTRODUCTION #1 DEFEND Children are known to get into trouble for things because they are not mature enough yet to realize what they are doing is wrong. Not having been taught what is acceptable yet, the child cannot know what they are doing is wrong. Therefore, the parents haven’t taught their child from right and wrong, and should take on full responsibility for what their child has done.

BODY PARAGRAPH #1 DEFEND It is a wide known fact that children are less mature than adults. The government puts different laws in place, for instance, “a minimum age for drinking and for serving in the military,” (Juvenile Death Penalty), to keep children from making a decision that will get them into trouble. It is the parent’s job to keep the children from making a decision that could get them into trouble. Children can’t fully comprehend what they are doing because, “the human brain continues to develop into the 20s,” (Juvenile Death Penalty). Since the part of the brain that controls impulsive decisions in not fully developed, the child cannot fully understand the consequences to come. Therefore, the parents should take care and make sure that the child does not make a decision, and take full responsibility when the child breaks the law.

INTRODUCTION #2 CHALLENGE Parents raise their children to learn what is right and wrong from a young age to help keep them out of trouble. However there are times when the parents are not there to keep the child in line, and the child may end up breaking the law. Since the child chose to break the law, knowing right from wrong, they should take responsibility for their actions.

BODY PARAGRAPH #2 CHALLENGE Children are raised knowing, ”that murder is wrong,” (Juvenile Death Penalty), from a young age. Knowing that they are committing a crime they, “should be punished accordingly,” (Juvenile Death Penalty), for committing a crime that they knew was wrong. When children took responsibility in the 1990’s for the crimes that they had committed it made, “the U.S. safer by removing dangerous criminals from the streets before they had a chance to commit even more brutal crimes,” (Sentencing Juveniles). When children take responsibility for their actions they are punished accordingly and help make the world a safer place.

POST-RESEARCH REFLECTION I still believe that the child should be responsible for the crime that they committed. They are the one who broke the law and not their parents. The U.S. justice system was stronger when children would own up to their crimes because not as many criminals were on the streets.

WORKS CITED “Juvenile Death Penalty.” Issues & Controversies. Infobase Learning, 21 Jan Web. 14 Feb “Sentencing Juveniles to Life Without Parole.” Issues & Controversies. Infobase Learning,21 Aug Web. 14 Feb