should juvenile offenders be tried and punished as adults?

Should juvenile offenders be tried and punished as adults?  I think it depends on the offense.  I myself was getting myself in trouble as a teenager and I did get caught a couple of times, and I was punished, although lightly probably because I was a juvenile.  I had to do 30 hours of community service, and have been kicked off properties for a few months.  I think the bit of punishment I received and the embarrassment of being caught helped straighten me out, but I probably would have eventually straightened out anyway.  I do not believe it is necessary to punish kids to the extent we would an adult.  I think kids are trying to find themselves and are sometimes experiencing teenage angst which hopefully they will grow out of like I did.  So if the offense is not a huge one, such as murder, then give them lesser punishments.