by C.K. Matthews

Created on: November 22, 2009   Last Updated: November 23, 2009

In the debate of whether or not parents should be held responsible for their children's criminal behavior many weigh in their opinions based on their own perspective or experiences but what are the facts? Many think parents should have more control over the behavior of the children.

How can one person control the actions of another human being? People cannot control actions of another; even our laws reflect this. Laws are intended to use fear of consequence to sway people from committing crime. It cannot stop people from committing crimes.

For those struggling to acquire even the most basic of needs, prison would seem like an luxury hotel with its three meals a day, air conditioned suites with color television and access to education otherwise not obtainable.

Parents cannot be expected to control the uncontrollable but parents are expected, and rightly so, to teach children right from wrong and teach them positive ways to cope with things like bullies, anger issues, and other negative feelings. What about the parents who do not manage their own behaviors properly?

Many crimes committed by children of all ages involve children raised in homes where drugs and other criminal behaviors are a way of life. Parents have been known to teach their children how to shoplift, sell drugs and even turn their children into prostitutes.

Parents have either forced their children into criminal behavior or have turned a drunken, drug-addicted eye to the problems. These parents should be punished for their own crimes and the children should be protected from further negative influence such as family and gangs and guided to a better way of life.

Now, we cannot reasonably put drug dealers and killers back on the streets regardless of how young they may be but putting them in the typical jail, prison, or juvenile detention systems can do more harm than good.

"More than 2.5 million juveniles are arrested every year in America and 70% of juveniles convicted of crimes have gone on to commit crimes again. With Our U.S. prison population increasing 15 times faster than the general population, the urgency for youth intervention has never been greater! (Breakaway Outreach Mission Statement)."

Over 50% of adult prisoners end up back in prison for one reason or another. What happens with the other 50%? Do you think they learned their lesson and are all living as hard working law abiding citizens? Some say there is no better place to learn how to commit crimes without being caught than in

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