The attitude you have as a parent is what yours will learn more from what you tell them. They don’t remember what you try to teach them. Instead, they remember what you are. A famous quote by Jim Henson very well illustrates a parent’s role in the development of a child. “The attitude that a parent carries is what affects a child the most. It plays the role of protagonist in the process of doing a child’s character. The way a child behaves is a reflection of what he learns from his parents, the way parents treat him and the way he is taught to tackle various circumstances.
Parents bearing the sole responsibility of the children are surely to be held accountable for the deeds of a child. For all the good acts done by a child, the credit goes to the parents and their teachings. But when a child commits a crime, do the parents still stand accountable? The answer is yes, rather in such cases parents are to be credited even to a larger extent. Primary source of a child’s knowledge is his parents. He grows up watching his parents, the way they react to various situations, the way they handle the things and imbibes those learning and qualities in his behaviour. The child behaves as the attitude that his parents carry towards various people, may be the calmness or the aggression they depict at different occurrences and assimilates a great part of it.
Parents, therefore, being such an important part of child’s development must nurture their child in such a way that he does not head towards any wrong acts or any criminal activities. They must keep track on their children so that the children does not get involved in any of the bad habits. Habits are not developed in a day or two; instead they are nurtured over a period and if a bad habit is corrected every time it appears attractive to the child, its inculcation can surely be withheld. Moreover, it’s the responsibility of the parents to bring back the child on the right track if he/she goes off the track. Scolding and punishing although must be avoided at earlier stages but if other alternatives turn ineffective it’s better to scold and bring a child on the right path then to allow him proceed with his bad habits. Minor children are, however, innocent and goofy, and they don’t have the knowledge of right and wrong. What they require at initial stages is right guidance and in such cases who could be the better teachers than their parents. The negligence of the parents for bad habits developing in their child, at its inception is the prime cause later compelling the child to get involved in criminal acts. Another important factor that makes parents accountable for child’s criminal act is the time they devote towards their child. Some working parents are not able to devote the right amount of time to their children that in turn makes the child exposes to criminal acts with no one to pull them back from the web of bad company. Yet another factor that justifies parents being accountable for child’s criminal act is that once a child gets involved in any kind of criminal act and parents too are imposed with some fines related to crime. So, they tend to increase their attention towards the child which in turn prevents him from further getting involved in such activities. Moreover, different states have their laws formulated making it as the duty of the parent to provide right care and supervision to the child. For example, according to California Penal Code it is a misdemeanour for a parent who fails to fulfil his/her duty which involves taking reasonable care, supervision, protection and control over their minor child.
Such laws again portray the importance of parents in the development of the child. Hence, making them accountable for all the illegal deeds of their children, they act as colours that may either brighten up the picture or make it dull and dark.
References
Articlemyriad.com,. 'Parent Responsibility For Children’S Crimes : A Legal And Ethical Discussion'. N.p., 2014. Web. 1 Nov. 2014.
Circle of Moms,. 'Should Parents Be Held Responsible For Their Minor Children's Criminal Behaviour?'. N.p., 2014. Web. 1 Nov. 2014.
Debate.org,. 'Should Parents Be Held Morally And Legally Responsible For The Actions Of Their Children?'. N.p., 2014. Web. 1 Nov. 2014.
England, Deborah. 'Parental Responsibility For A Child's Criminal Actions | Criminal Law'.CriminalDefenseLawyer.com. N.p., 2014. Web. 1 Nov. 2014.
Lawyers.com,. 'Parents' Responsibility For Their Child's Actions'. N.p., 2014. Web. 1 Nov. 2014.
Ncpc.org,. 'Strategy: Holding Parents Accountable For Their Children's Behavior — National Crime Prevention Council'. N.p., 2014. Web. 1 Nov. 2014.
