Taking Responsibility

Robbery, rape, assault, murder, theft, and vandalism: These are just a handful of the crimes committed by children today. Whether the crime be violent or non violent, the crime rate of adolescents under eighteen has increased. Crimes like these have caused people to ponder the question: Should parents be responsible, legally and financially for crimes committed by their children under eighteen? Some believe that parents should not be held accountable for the crime their child commits.

Others believe that parents should be responsible for their children’s actions. Parents should be held responsible for their children’s crimes because parents should teach their children what is right from wrong at a young age and they should be more involved in their children’s lives and be concerned with the people and places that he or she is associated with. On the other hand, some people determine that if a child under eighteen commits a crime, their parents should not take responsibility for it.

When parents discipline a child too much, the child is likely to be rebellious and go against their parents’ wishes. There are parents that have done all that they could and in spite of that, their child gets into criminal activity. The opposing view also believes that even when parents are involved in their child’s life, there are other factors that corrupt a child into committing crime. Society and the media have a great influence on how children act. Peer pressure is another factor that may cause a child to commit a crime.

Overall, a parent cannot control their child’s decisions and should not be held liable for their children’s actions. Parents should be held responsible legally and financially for crimes committed by their children under age eighteen because parents should teach their children what is right from wrong at an early age. If parents do not discipline their children for doing the wrong thing, how will their children ever learn from their mistakes? (Rhetorical question) Ministers believe that problems on the street often begin at home.

When children have a dysfunctional family or bad influences at home, they are more likely to be involved in criminal activity. If the parents set a bad example for their children they are likely to follow it. It is the parents’ responsibility to let their children know what is not right. If parents make the effort to direct their children toward the right path in life, they will not be misguided or end up following criminal activity. (Cause and effect) If parents do not do their job in teaching their children hat is right from wrong, their children will never learn and assume that it is okay to repeat their false actions. Parents also have the responsibility of elucidating what is right from wrong to their children so that their children can grow up to become successful individuals. Parents should be held responsible legally and financially for the crimes their children commit because parents should be involved in their child’s life and be concerned with the people and places that he or she is associated with.

Parents should be familiar with their children’s friends because a child is like a parrot; they repeat the actions of their friends and are easily influenced by them. (Metaphor) If a child is friends with someone who is doing drugs or making bad choices, they are likely to be caught following in their footsteps. It would be wonderful for parents to dump their children in the streets, but they should know where their children are at all times. Satire) Parents need to question their children before they go out: they need to know who they are going to be with and where they are going to be. When parents are informed about the places their children spend time they can contact them and there is a smaller chance that they will be doing something illegal. Therefore, parents should be responsible legally and financially for crimes committed by their children under eighteen because as a parent, their job is to make sure that their children are safe and successful.

Parents should have a close or good relationship with their children and they should be concerned with their children’s lives. They must also make the time to get to know the type of people that their children spend time with. If parents do this, not only will they benefit, but their children will benefit as well. Parents will be leading their child to live a pleasant life, striding away from crime and toward a better future. (Tone-Positive)