Every time Americans tune into local news broadcasts or read daily
papers，they are likely to be shocked at the increasing number of serious crimes
committed by youths who are only sixteen years old or even younger.It is
sometimes difficult to imagine these youngsters behaving like hardened
criminals，but statistics continually prove that their crimes are often just as
brutal as those committed by their adult counterparts.Inevitably，people begin
questioning how successful the juvenile justice system is in reforming these
youths and debating whether violent juveniles should be tried as adults in our
legal system.I feel there is no question that juveniles convicted of serious
crimes should face the same consequences as adults.
While the teenage population in the United States has declined over the
past decade，violent crimes committed by juveniles have sharply increased.It is
common knowledge that the youth murder-arrest rate has climbed
dramatically.Examples of teen crime are vivid and terrifying.Newspapers and
television frequently report that youths with no apparent motives have shot and
killed other people.The effect on both families and society is large.
Despite the increase in serious crimes committed by young offenders，the
punishment which juveniles receive has traditionally almost never fit the
severity of the crimes.Since the system has historically viewed children as not
being fully developed，physically or mentally，it has prevented them from being
held accountable for their wrongdoing.Although many of these“children”commit
horrible crimes，they have been routinely treated as victims of society.Until
very recently，1ighter sentences and court proceedings have been the norm.The
message they sent to serious juvenile criminals is that crime “pays” because
there are no serious consequences for their actions.When the system lacks an
element of fear，there is nothing to prevent youthful offenders from committing
future crimes.The current trend of assigning adult sentences to youths who
commit serious crimes is absolutely just if the punishment is to fit the
crime.
Most pro-rehabilitation advocates argue that juvenile criminals are
completely different from adult ones and should，therefore，be treated differently
in the justice system.However，the cost to society is the same regardless of the
age of the criminal.What comfort does it give to the family of a killed or
injured victim that the person who killed or hurt their loved one was a minor?
Families suffer no less because their relatives are shot by young
offenders.Instead of treating the loser who murders innocent people like a
victim of society，this person should be treated like any other person who
victimizes society and causes pain to individuals and communities.
Tougher measures must be taken to combat this growing problem of juvenile
crime.In today‘s society，too many juveniles count on light sentences given by
the juvenile justice system.Lawyers can help a vicious criminal receive a short
sentence，and return to the streets to commit more crimes.When there are no harsh
consequences of being caught，committing crimes can be perceived as having
positive benefits.As a result，juveniles are continuing to become more violent
and 1ess concerned with the value of human life.
Rehabilitation，recommended by many as the solution to juvenile crime，should
be directed only towards youths who have committed minor offenses.However，the
juveniles who commit serious crimes should be tried as adults.A message has to
be sent that we will no longer tolerate brutal crimes simply because of the age
of the criminal.These youths must be held completely accountable for their
crimes，suffering harsh consequences and ultimately realizing that they are no
longer protected by the law. 1.It can be inferred that juvenile criminals are those____.
[A]who are under the age of 16 years old
[B]who are not accountable for the crimes they commit
[C]who can not tell major crimes from minor crimes
[D]who are more likely to become victims of the society 2.That violent juvenile crimes are on the rise is manifested by the fact
that____.
[A]penalty for juvenile criminals is becoming more and more serious
[B]the society can no longer tolerate juvenile crimes
[C]youth murder-arrest rate has dramatically increased
[D]the young population has increased in the last ten years 3.The reason why young people are becoming increasingly violent is
that____.
[A]the older they become，the stronger they are
[B]they receive lighter punishment than they should
[C]they do not know the value of human life
[D]there is now too much violence in newspaper and on television 4.According to the author，one reason why violent juvenile criminals should
suffer the same fate as their adult counterparts is that____.
[A]there are as many juvenile crimes as adult crimes
[B]they have done equivalent injuries to the victim or the society
[C]they are clearly aware of what they are doing at the time of offence
[D]no other penalty can prevent them from committing future crimes 5.Pro-rehabilitation advocates insist that____.
[A]rehabilitation be directed only towards youths who commit minor
crimes
[B]stricter sentences be given only to youths who commit brutal crimes
[C]a different justice system be applied to minors since they are not fully
developed
[D]minors be held completely responsible for any kind of crimes they
commit 答案与题解
1.[A] 参阅第一段第一句。
2.[C] 参阅第二段第二句。
3.[B] 参阅第三、四、五段，尤其是第五段。
4.[B] 参阅第四段第二、三、四句。
5.[C] 参阅第四段第一句和第三段第一、二句。
发表于 2017-8-6 16:07:18