Juvenile justice

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Juvenile justice

Due to an increase in juvenile delinquency in the US, there was an establishment of the juvenile justice system over a hundred years ago. Despite establishing the above system, young individuals are routinely charged and prosecuted in the adult criminal justice system. Individuals should realize that the number of young individuals facing adult prosecution substantially increased in the period 1990s. Although crime significantly decreased since that period, the given laws continue to subject young people to criminal conviction and sentencing.

According to recent studies, there exist substantial differences between young people and adults that affect young people’s decision making. Although the above differences do not exclude young individuals from being held accountable for their actions, the Supreme Court in the US has, on more than one occasion, recognized that young people are more capable of change and rehabilitation than adults (Lundstrom).

I concur with the fact that young people should not be tried in the adult criminal justice system. Punishing children, the same way that adult offenders are punished does not advance public safety. According to recent studies, as young individuals mature, they have lower chances of engaging in additional crimes. This means that putting young offenders behind bars for long will extend the incarceration beyond the time needed to be rehabilitated. One should realize that many teens have their lives taken away because of one “stupid mistake”. Teens find themselves committing crimes because of their inability to keep their impulses and emotions in check (Thompson). Therefore, one can conclude that juvenile offenders act under circumstances they cannot control, events that can substantially influence them. Prison does not change the minds of juvenile offenders for the better. Still, such juvenile offenders end up developing bitter feelings and have higher chances of engaging in crimes upon their prison release  (Thompson). Severe punishment is not the best way through which better behavior can be fostered.

Therefore, instead of taking juvenile offenders to prison, they should be offered therapeutic help to be taught the importance of good behavior. Various factors can influence a young person’s choices (Jenkins). For instance, the environment and the people one interacts with. Lionel Tate is a perfect example of what can happen to a teenager who is surrounded by bad influences. Lionel Tate was influenced by World Wrestling Federation heroes and ended up savagely beating up to death a six-year-old girl.

From the above example, an individual can realize that when bad influences surround young people, they can psychologically be affected. There is a dire need for the justice system in the US to avoid instances of trying young individuals in the adult criminal justice system instead focus on rehabilitating young people for the greater good of the community. From the case of Tate, it is evident that young individuals who are released from prison are either traumatized or aggressive from protecting themselves  (Lundstrom). Teenagers who are taken to adult prison get physical, emotional, and sexual abuse, which significantly increases suicide rates.

Incarcerating children in adult prisons denies them access to various essential services like education and treatment programs, interfering with their healthy development. According to research, education plays a critical role in the reduction of re-offending. Therefore, youths’ successful reentry into their community is compromised when they are denied adequate chances to pursue education (Garinger). Education ensures that young individuals can acquire employment upon their release from prison. Employment provides that individuals can earn a living through the right channel without necessarily engaging in criminal behavior. Education is also essential in ensuring that young people can overcome the social stigma associated with previously incarcerated individuals. Through education, one can control his emotions, which can otherwise make one commit additional crimes.

It is evident that juveniles tried in adult courts and released from state prisons have higher chances of being re-arrested than those tried in juvenile courts. Juvenile offenders tried in juvenile courts benefit from services offered in those facilities ranging from education to counseling services essential in adolescent development. In adult prisons, juveniles do not have a chance to acquire the necessary skills critical to their success as adults. Still, they are exposed to adult hardcore criminals who significantly influence behavior. Therefore, one can conclude that trying young offenders in the adult criminal justice system symbolizes toughness more than it delivers toughness (Anderson). Being tough on crime ensures that there are delays in the court process and longer time spent in pre-incarceration, which interferes with juvenile offenders’ id. Lack of rehabilitative services in adult prisons eventually leads to recidivism among juvenile offenders, which is a worrying trend.

In conclusion, juvenile courts were created because juveniles do not have the cognitive development that adults have. These facilities are meant to provide rehabilitative services through which the rate of juvenile recidivism can be reduced. Young offenders should not be tried in the adult criminal justice system which go against children’s rights. Rehabilitation is more effective in behavior change than punishment.

Works Cited

Anderson, Scott. Greg Ousley Is Sorry for Killing His Parents. Is That Enough? New York Times, 2012.

Garinger, Gail. Juveniles Don’t Deserve Life Sentences. New York Times,, 2012.

Jenkins, Jennifer. On Punishment and Teen Killers. Juvenile Justice Information Exchange, 2011.

Lundstrom, Marjie. Kids Are Kids—Until They Commit Crimes. Sacramento Bee, 2001.

Thompson, Paul. Startling Finds on Teenage Brains. Sacramento Bee,, 2001. Friday, May 25, 2001.

Topic: Juvenile Justice Activity 21
Subject: English
Sources: 5 sources required
Style: MLA