By definition a juvenile is “A person who is not yet old enough to be legally considered an adult” (Merriam Webster Dictionary). Despite this definition, America chooses to try juveniles as adults. Juveniles who commit certain violent crimes are subjected to being imprisoned in adult facilities. These violent crimes are known as the seven deadly sins and include murder, voluntary manslaughter, rape, aggravated sexual battery, aggravated sodomy, aggravated child molestation and armed robbery with a firearm. Over 200,000 juveniles are charged in adult courts every year in the United States and should not be (Should Juveniles Be Tried as Adults? 11). Even though juveniles are capable of committing violent crimes they should not be tried as adults
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Juveniles sentenced to time in adult prisons have to encounter adults much older than them on a daily basis. Youth who are incarcerated in adult facilities are more likely to suffer from abuse from other inmates than those housed in juvenile facilities. This abuse can cause the juvenile to become emotionally and mentally ill. Juveniles who are held in adult prisons are eight times more likely to commit suicide, five times more likely to be sexually assaulted, two times more likely to be beaten by staff and fifty percent more likely to be assaulted with a weapon (Should Juveniles Be Tried as Adults? 15). Trying juveniles as adults subjects them to harsh conditions which they are not emotionally ready for. Forcing youth to be housed with adults may cause them to become depressed and angry. Juveniles who are tried as adults may feel unjustly treated causing them to become angry, cynical and they may feel defeated (Should Juveniles Be Tried as Adults? 35). Adult inmates also tend to form juveniles into hardened criminals and teach them to be dominate and retaliate. Juveniles who are tried as adults and placed in adult facilities do not receive the psychological support they would get in a juveniles facility causing them to become emotionally
Juveniles sentenced to time in adult prisons have to encounter adults much older than them on a daily basis. Youth who are incarcerated in adult facilities are more likely to suffer from abuse from other inmates than those housed in juvenile facilities. This abuse can cause the juvenile to become emotionally and mentally ill. Juveniles who are held in adult prisons are eight times more likely to commit suicide, five times more likely to be sexually assaulted, two times more likely to be beaten by staff and fifty percent more likely to be assaulted with a weapon (Should Juveniles Be Tried as Adults? 15). Trying juveniles as adults subjects them to harsh conditions which they are not emotionally ready for. Forcing youth to be housed with adults may cause them to become depressed and angry. Juveniles who are tried as adults may feel unjustly treated causing them to become angry, cynical and they may feel defeated (Should Juveniles Be Tried as Adults? 35). Adult inmates also tend to form juveniles into hardened criminals and teach them to be dominate and retaliate. Juveniles who are tried as adults and placed in adult facilities do not receive the psychological support they would get in a juveniles facility causing them to become emotionally