Incarcerating youthful offenders in an adult system exposes them to higher levels of criminality and violence. In 2009, The Just Kids Partnership (http://articles.baltimoresun.com/2010-10-04/news/bs-md-just-kids-partnership-20101004_1_juvenile-system-baltimore-jail-juvenile-court) followed 153 youthful offenders who were charged as adults. This study was published in the Baltimore Sun and identified that while in the adult justice system, these youths were taught to become violent criminals and victims of physical and sexual abuse. There is great debate about trying juveniles as adults and there are pro’s and con’s to both sides of the issue. Some states have laws that will automatically charge a youth as an adult without any consideration. I contend that sixteen year olds should not be tried as adults in the justice system. Charging a youth as an adult offers them less of an opportunity for rehabilitation,
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One of the ways that a youth learns to become a criminal is by being around criminal activity and other people making similar choices. When a youth is in jail, they may learn to become a better criminal and get away with worse crimes. Young people can be easily influenced, especially when they are trying to survive in a scary situation. If they are exposed to adults that have made bad choices, they may start to think continuing to commit crime is a good idea. The Teen Advocates website (http://www.teenadvocatesusa.org/10reasonswhy.html) states that “Children in adult prisons are 5 times as likely to be sexually assaulted, twice as likely to be beaten by staff, 50 percent more likely to be attacked with a weapon and 8 times as likely to commit suicide as children in juvenile facilities.” Being exposed to this violence and trauma is harmful and is likely to increase the youth’s anger and poor decision making. Putting at-risk kids in a positive environment will decrease their exposure to negative
One of the ways that a youth learns to become a criminal is by being around criminal activity and other people making similar choices. When a youth is in jail, they may learn to become a better criminal and get away with worse crimes. Young people can be easily influenced, especially when they are trying to survive in a scary situation. If they are exposed to adults that have made bad choices, they may start to think continuing to commit crime is a good idea. The Teen Advocates website (http://www.teenadvocatesusa.org/10reasonswhy.html) states that “Children in adult prisons are 5 times as likely to be sexually assaulted, twice as likely to be beaten by staff, 50 percent more likely to be attacked with a weapon and 8 times as likely to commit suicide as children in juvenile facilities.” Being exposed to this violence and trauma is harmful and is likely to increase the youth’s anger and poor decision making. Putting at-risk kids in a positive environment will decrease their exposure to negative