Persuasive Essay On Juveniles

“I was driving a car when my uncle in the passenger seat accidentally fired an unlicensed firearm. I was sentenced to 35 years for attempted murder. My uncle was sentenced to life because of California’s three strikes law. I am 16 years old and many teenagers my age get sentenced to life without a chance for parole. Many become savages and now my 35 years only seem as a slap on the wrist.”
Many people believe that all crime should be punished equally. I say punishment should always benefit a person. Juveniles not only need time to reflect on their actions but also need to be guided away from their violent environmental paths.There are seldom any benefits of sending juveniles to prison; yet it happens frequently. Children either become indulged by the violence that surrounds them or very few try to better themselves. Either way, no child should grow up in prison.
What is the purpose of a juvenile justice court system? To provide individualized assessments to rehabilitate and prevent further delinquent behavior through the development of educational, vocational, social, emotional and basic life skills which enable youth to grow and mature. (State of Illinois Circuit Court of Cook County). A life in prison for a child will not rehabilitate them to prevent …show more content…
We need to understand their past and find out what got them to do a serious crime. By doing so would give some reasoning behind the sentence they will have. Family engagement is very important as well. Many of these juveniles will be on a prosperous path but will recede into their delinquent past because of the poor lack of family engagement. The family needs supportive services as well. We need to create an interaction plan for the parents and juvenile to effectively habilitate the individual. Research shows that family engagement increases school achievement, reduces recidivism rates, and reduces problem