Should We Protect the Identity of Young Criminal Offenders Convicted with Criminal Offences

Thanks to ishallannoyyo for his arguments. My opponent has ignored one very relevant fact from his argument. We are talking about YOUNG convicts and not just any convicted criminal. Often criminals themselves are victims of circumstances they are brought up in. In case of young offenders, this is especially true. We are talking about people who committed some mistake at a very young age. After committing the crime they have also paid the penalty. They already know that crime does not pay. When they get another chance in life, they would be eager to do something good with their life. They are the perfect candidates for rehabilitation. However there is one problem they may face while trying to turn their life around. The problem is stigma and prejudice. They already know crime does not pay much. What society may teach them is: in their situation, avoiding crime pays even less. This may lead them back to the criminal world. My esteemed opponent wants to flash photographs and videos of criminal all over the national media and to inform any potential employer and whole neighbor that they are convicts. I am certain that this will make it very difficult for them to get a job, except for a particular kind of jobs which drag them back into the depth they were trying to rise from. == Rebuttals == 1. Public Safety: My opponent relies on appeal to emotions. “Wouldn't you like to know if there is a convicted felon living next door?” This question itself shows what kind of prejudice young convicts are likely to face in life. No one would welcome them into neighborhood, or rent them their houses or offer them any jobs or even socialize with them. If the brutal ‘civilized’ world refuses to entertain them, what alternative do they have except to go back to the world of crime? These kids are not habitual offenders. They committed a crime in their youth. It does not mean they are going to do it again. They deserve a chance. It would be extremely cruel to deny them an opportunity. So what about public safety? I would suggest we should be careful about our neighbors in any case and maintain essential precautions. Even if they are not convicts, they may still commit a crime in future. Or maybe they have committed some crime and escaped arrest! 2. Deterrence: My opponent thinks that we should humiliate the young convicts all over the media. It is an unsubstantiated and outrageous assertion. This may or may not help deterrence. Media is extremely unreliable to be made a part of criminal justice system. It is possible that publicity given by the media may give some kind rebel status to these youngsters and lead to promotion of crime. It will be better if we rely on conventional punishments to curb crime. 3: Rehabilitation is still possible even with public knowledge: The way my opponent has worded the caption shows that rehabilitation is going to be unlikely. I agree it may still be possible in the unlikely event that everyone around them is extremely positive and supportive. Real world does not work like that. Most people do not give a benefit of doubt to ‘convicted felon living next door’ The resolution is negated.