The Author of this article is severely  emotionally challenged.  And has no empathy for others.  And "empathy" is really where this conversation should start!

A young inividual Knowng "Why" something is "right" or "wrong" is when,  and how,  the determination should be made as to wherther they should be tried as an adult.

Adolescents learn early the difference between right and wrong...they also learn to lie to get what they want.   but , they are rarely given instruction about victim's plight. 

This is because we, as a society,  dont want to raise cynical children.  So we shield them from stories about victims, and in turn, we dont teach them how their next lie or offence may hurt someone!!

A lie of ommision is just as bad as a lie committed.   We (our society) is raising juvinile offenders by failing to teach them about violence,   sex, and empathy,  at an early age! 

So basically you're saying - if you are 16 and were abused as a child & you decide to go out and murder someone, that's okay, they deserve a second chance. But, if a 35 year old was abused as a child & decides to go out & murder someone, that person doesn't deserve a second chance?

Everyone had a childhood at some point, whether you deal with your anger at 16 or 35 - what makes one person more special then the other?

if adults are relentless to treating us like adults, then why should we all of a sudden be tried as an adult? 

i honestly don't care if i have to suffer the consequences that are given to me but i would much happier do it if i got that same respect for when were doing nothing wrong.

First and foremost, kudos for voicing your opinion. I did not find the article especially well written and I disagree but that does not take away from the courage you had to share your views on this very, very important issue. I do, however, disagree. I find there is too many faults with just trying kids and teens as adults. For instance...

What about kids that aren't there for murder?

   What about the 17 year old girl who tried drugs- and got caught? What about the group of graduates who have a party and someone dies? They're too terrified to think clearly and be rational. What if they get charged with criminally negligent homicide? What about the 13 year old boy living in the epitome of poverty, the "ghetto", so to speak, who gets involved with his older brother doing drugs? He's lived with them, known them, for his entire life. Why are they bad? His parents do them. What about the 17 year old boy who has sex with his drunk girlfriend? That's rape. How about the 18 year old with 15 year old girlfriend? That's rape, too. He's now a "sex offender". Or even the 17 year old who murders someone. He's mentally ill, homeless, and hallucinated while he was killing. 

Are these crimes right? Of course not. Ideally, everyone should know, respect, and follow the law. But that just isn't the case and especially with juveniles, it usually isn't the case. 

   Should these people be put in to an adult jail where they could face years and years behind bars? Another thing you neglected to mention was the conditions of these jails. Rape, abuse, fighting, and murder is happening behind bars. Lets say the hypothetical situation about the 17 year old boy with the drunk girlfriend.

 He goes in a good kid. He gets good grades, he has friends, a supportive family, plans for college. He goes in. He's raped, abused, mistreated. How does he come out of jail? He's not the same "good kid". Now he's back on the streets- as most will be- worse than he came in.

Yet another thing you neglected to mention was the conditions they should endure while in jail. Solitary confinement, the act of isolating them from their fellow inmates and depriving them of their primal need for human interaction. This has the power to make anyone suicidal, angry, and violent. Should they be able to get the death penalty? Life in prison?

Kids can be helped. Rehabilitated, counseled, and taught. By sentencing them as adults, we are taking away the hope that these kids do have.

although this might be true, the decision-making part of your brain, the part that fully formulates plans and sees possible consequences, doesn't fully develop until your early twenties, so that might be part of the reason.

Good article though!