Juvenile Offenders
Juvenile Offenders Juvenile offenders are classified in most systems as people who have not yet reached the age of maturity, which by law is the threshold of your adult years. 18 years old is the line between being a teenager and a full grown adult when they will be able to be tried for a criminal offense, while fourteen years old is the youngest age a person can be tried for a seriously violent crime. In the text it states, “Juvenile crime has been a feature of almost every society, but how authorities choose to deal with it has varied according to time and place.” (“Juvenile Offenders”). The legal system created facilities called reform schools, which were made to rehabilitate the
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While many people think that system is a good way to help juveniles, others don’t agree with what is going on and how they are being handled. The juvenile detention system does not affect the offender in a constructive way and seems only to cause more problems for the juvenile. Therefore the present system should not be in existence because it is not producing the desired effect on the youth. Juvenile offenders are put at risk every single day that they are put in jails that were originally meant for adults. Many people are trying to separate the youth from the mature portion of the jailed population. In the text it states, “It is extremely risky to keep youths safe in adult jails. When youths are placed in adult jails, youth are at great risk of physical and sexual assault.” (“Placing Juveniles in the Adult Criminal Justice System is Counterproductive”). This is not only a major factor to put into …show more content…
“Rather, these laws strike a proper balance between protecting public safety, holding youth appropriately accountable for their crimes and rehabilitating youthful offenders.” (Backstrom, 1). While most believe that taking youth off the streets to keep the public safe is very effective, keeping the actual youth safe is another matter altogether. As the text states, “Children who spend time in adult prisons and jails are at a much higher risk for assault, abuse and suicide. They don’t get the services they need, and they are more likely to re-offend sooner, more often, and more violently, than youth who stay in the juvenile system.” (Rozzell). So as has been discussed, putting youths in these adult jails would seem to cause more harm to the individual, both mentally and/or physically, and could potentially lead to harm of other people, thus providing evidence that the system is failing and in need of significant
While many people think that system is a good way to help juveniles, others don’t agree with what is going on and how they are being handled. The juvenile detention system does not affect the offender in a constructive way and seems only to cause more problems for the juvenile. Therefore the present system should not be in existence because it is not producing the desired effect on the youth. Juvenile offenders are put at risk every single day that they are put in jails that were originally meant for adults. Many people are trying to separate the youth from the mature portion of the jailed population. In the text it states, “It is extremely risky to keep youths safe in adult jails. When youths are placed in adult jails, youth are at great risk of physical and sexual assault.” (“Placing Juveniles in the Adult Criminal Justice System is Counterproductive”). This is not only a major factor to put into …show more content…
“Rather, these laws strike a proper balance between protecting public safety, holding youth appropriately accountable for their crimes and rehabilitating youthful offenders.” (Backstrom, 1). While most believe that taking youth off the streets to keep the public safe is very effective, keeping the actual youth safe is another matter altogether. As the text states, “Children who spend time in adult prisons and jails are at a much higher risk for assault, abuse and suicide. They don’t get the services they need, and they are more likely to re-offend sooner, more often, and more violently, than youth who stay in the juvenile system.” (Rozzell). So as has been discussed, putting youths in these adult jails would seem to cause more harm to the individual, both mentally and/or physically, and could potentially lead to harm of other people, thus providing evidence that the system is failing and in need of significant