Children commit crimes as adults. The problem is how to punish them? Should they be treated in juvenile institutions or punished with adult criminals? In some states, you are considered an adult at 17, then, as criminals are placed “in adult prisons for more sophisticated training in violent crimes and victimization.” (Page 637) The first article; “Adult crime; Adult time. by Linda J. Collier talks about how the young delinquents of the world should be thrown in with the hardened criminals. He talks about the incident in Jonesboro, Arkansas, in which Andrew Golden, 11, and Mitchell Johnson, 13, massacred their classmates as they ran from the school building. They activated the fire alarm and began the assault with a barrage of bullets. In this particular situation, “they are still considered by the law first as children and then as criminals” (p. 620). This is not the first time young children have committed such crimes, but the average amount of violence committed by children has increased 60 percent since 1984. She argues that because of these statistics, we need to update the juvenile justice system. “In recent years, many states have adopted changes to their juvenile crime laws, and some have lowered the age at which a juvenile can be tried as an adult for certain violent crimes.” (Page 620) According to this author, she believes it is a start in the right direction. He says he has represented children as a court-appointed guardian and feels humble in trying to help them overcome their difficulties, often due to circumstances beyond their control. However, for violent crimes, he believes that “children who knowingly commit adult behaviors and crimes should automatically be subject to adult rules and adult prison” (p. 622). In the second article “Cruel Punishment for Juveniles” the authors have a different view than Linda J. Collier. Treating young people like adults only helps society forget that they are actually still children. They believe that subjecting children to adult punishment is cruel and unusual. They think, “Most young offenders don't become adult criminals. There are turning points – quality education, well-paying jobs, stable marriages – that help young delinquents become law-abiding adults.” (Page 637) Some community youth child care programs have been shown to work in dealing with minors. Smith and Chester talk about Frankie; a 17 year old arrested for trespassing.