by Gary Betts

Created on: December 06, 2007   Last Updated: July 18, 2011

Yes, parents should be held responsible for their minor child's criminal behavior - to a point. When a child becomes a teenager, but is still a minor, it can become increasingly difficult to keep an eye on that child. Parents can't follow him around every where he goes.

A person could also be the best parent in the world and try to teach the child the proper things in life, but some kids will not respond. Despite the best efforts of their parents, some children will become criminals.

This is why I think parents should be held financially responsible for damages, but not for injury. Also, parents should not be held criminally responsible. To do otherwise would make parenting an impossible task even for the most qualified people.

Therefore, parents should be held accountable for some criminal acts their minor child has done. But parents should not be held accountable for everything. The parents are responsible to a degree, but the child is 100% responsible. As the child grows older, he must shoulder more responsibility for his actions. If the child is not held accountable, he will grow up blaming others for his actions. Especially his parents.

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