Are the kids aged 17-21 years assholes nowadays?

Been seeing these kids who act high and almighty, seen them beating up the elderlies, abusing them and disrespecting almost all their elders. Recently some kids were having some issues with my brother in law and they somehow ganged upon him and gave him a few punches i saw them and told them to back off and I called the cops the cops let them go as some of them were just 17. they were again hanging out below my building and they were smoking and I told them "boys please don't smoke out there, I have a little baby at home. And they were swearing at me, I went below and told them to repeat what they said, and they went away. I really wanted to mess them up so bad.