Why do young people break the law and what happens when they are caught? Children's Express reporters ask young people what they think.
Andrew Bates, 16, Wallsend
I think children break the law because they are bored and they have nothing else to do. I would be ashamed of someone in my family if they did it but I would also try to put them in the right direction if I could. It's the responsibility of parents when young people break the law, like when their parents are kids and they broke the law and then their kids grow up in the same way.
Young people should be told the right way to do things and not break the law. It depends on the age of the young people as to whether you are responsible for your actions because I think you get to a certain age when you know what you are doing. Even playing chicken is breaking the law because people can get hurt if a car hit them and then the driver would feel guilty. The only game that I have played that could be illegal was 'knocky nine doors' which wasn't really all that bad anyway. If young people under ten break the law they have to go to a children's home.
Bradley Duff, nine, Bedlington
Children break the law because basically they don't get what they want. I would speak to someone in my family if they broke the law and would be very disappointed. My parents are responsible for me if I do something bad.
People should be put in prison for a certain amount of time when they break the law. You have to be careful with what you are doing so that you can be responsible for your actions. There are games that young people play on the roads that are breaking the law because you are risking your life for instance Games like 'Curby'. I think the law treats young people differently to adults.
Kate Gentle, 14, Newcastle
It's bad when young people break the law. I would tell someone in my family off if they did something wrong. It's always the parents who are responsible for their children when something bad happens but I also think that Young people should be responsible for their actions. If it is children who are under the age of ten breaking the law then they should be told to help out in the community.
Lucy Dove, 14, Sunderland
Children break the law because they are bored. I would be upset if my brother or sister had done something bad. The young people themselves are responsible for breaking any laws because they are doing it. I never play chicken but I have knocked people's doors and run away but nothing happened. I only know bits of the law.
Maria Rud, 14, Sunderland
There is nothing else to do and they are bored, that's why young people break the law. I would be angry if someone in my family was breaking the law. It's the parent's responsibility because they should be bringing up their children better. When young people do something wrong then they should get a caution and then if they carry on they should go to a detention centre. It's partly the children's responsibility but it should also be the parents as well.
I don't think games like chicken are breaking the law. All that I have played was 'Nicky knocky nine doors'. The law doesn't treat adults the same as young people because I think they are more lenient with young people.
Richard Fada, 10 & Daniel Fada, 9, South Shields
Children break the law to look big in front of their friends. I would keep it quiet if someone in my family broke the law. If young people are caught doing something bad then they should be put in a kiddie care centre. The only game that I play is knock the neighbour, where you go and knock someone's door and run away. If a child under ten breaks the law then they get put into a home. Sometimes a young child can go into a cell if they break the law or sometimes a home.
About the teamInterviews by Liam Caine, 9, Michael Holland, 12 & Georgia Russell, 13. Junior Jury is a weekly column published in the Newcastle Evening Chronicle.
