You are completely right. There is a double standard when it comes to children and crimes. When a child commits a crime he is trated as an adult but when a child runs away with an adult he is seen as a sweet innocent child who was manipulated by an adult. You can see how children can be manipulatedIn the case of Elizabeth Smart. This 15 year old girl lied to police about her name. She had the opportunity to recive help and she did not. She was left alone by her kidnappers for hours at a time and she did nothing. Children are children and that is why they cannot live on their own, drive, have sex or vote. They do not have the mental capacity to make grown up decisions and to understand the consequences.