I think you are right. Lets not forget Human Development. The human brain is not fully developed until the age of 25. That is if there were no outside influences (drugs and alcohol). If these children were aware of what was going on, they certainly were not aware of the consequences. Any parent could spin this in a way that a child may think this is "ok". As far as what to do with them, the question would be "would they have received entrance based on their own merit"? if so the by all means, let them stay. If they would not have been allowed entrance, help guide them somewhere where they can be successful.
I can see your point, but I still think they should be charged. Teens are charged every single day with crimes, some sent to prison for a few decades for crimes committed when they were 15/16 (maybe influenced by peers or gangs instead of their parents like these college kids). Their brains were not fully developed either, same with OJ and these other kids.
Doesn't matter at all. Still sentenced, still do time.
I honestly think there should be sentencing reform and mandatory strict long-term counseling for anyone convicted under age 22 or so, but that's not the society we live in.
An 18 year old that breaks into a home knows it wrong even if they can't fully conceptualize the consequences.
Same with these college kids. The majority of them had some clue something was wrong and should be prosecuted likewise, IMO of course.
As many on here have, I have taken my share of college and grad school placement tests.
Those rules they send you prior to test date and the ones you read on your paper or computer on test date are intimidating enough and let you know the exact consequences of cheating.
One of the kids I read about in the document didn't even show up for the 2nd day of testing, but still passed with flying colors.
