Should parents be punished for the crimes of their children?

-The age of majority is not consistent across provinces; in Alberta, Manitoba, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Quebec, and Saskatchewan, the age of majority is 18. Despite not being considered adults in British Columbia, 18-year-olds are allowed to vote in provincial and federal elections. They can also run in elections. -Individuals mature at different rates. Statistically, female/feminized child and adolescent brains tend to form new neural connections across the two hemispheres of the brain faster than male/masculinized brains. These differences in brain development lead to the generalization that girls mature faster than boys. -Recent studies suggest that the brain does not stop changing and developing until approximately 25 years of age. Even after 25, the brain can continue to display neuroplasticity as a result of acquiring new knowledge or incurring a brain injury. -A parent/guardian, arguably, has the most significant impact upon a young child's life. Children learn many behaviours from the adults in their lives. However, when children enter school, they are subject to new influences from peers and can end up spending the majority of their time with other children. -Despite not having fully developed brains, children are capable of hurting others. There have been cases (in Canada and elsewhere) where children have injured and/or killed other human beings. These children who commit truly serious crimes are usually placed in the custody of the government. -If parents are held responsible for their children's actions, these consequences may prompt parents to become more closely involved in their children's lives. Parents may become more interested in reinforcing conscientious behaviours in their children