In the novel No Matter How Loud I Shout, author Edward Humes’ addresses the dysfunctions of the juvenile justice system. For a long time, most people did not even notice that the juvenile justice system is dysfunctional in any way. Once people did notice, they would tend to only focus on the child’s age when a serious crime takes place. This creates the notion that states need to lower the age of children who may tried in adult court. This notion is an ineffective tactic to try to reduce youth crime and address the dysfunctions of the juvenile justice system. The juvenile justice system’s focus should be on each individual child in order to prevent them from becoming serious criminals, and rehabilitate the children if they do reach this point.
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While awaiting his sentencing, George was already able to make use of some of the things that juvenile detention offered including getting his GED and participating in a writing class. George most benefits from the setting in juvenile court, and while he was able to be housed in juvenile hall to serve his sentence, if he ever switches to adult prison his success level will surely decrease. Even the workers at the juvenile hall who are close to George understand his need for remaining in the custody of juvenile court. The reforms focused on lowering the age that children, like George, can enter the adult court system only keeps everyone in the process “stubbornly fixated on chronological age as the single most important factor in deciding who should be treated as a kid and who would be viewed as a legal adult” (Humes 359). Meanwhile, the seriousness of the crime, the child’s background and previous criminal record, whether or not the child may respond to rehabilitation and any treatment that the child may need should all be taken into consideration. Solely focusing on the age of the child and maybe the crime, should not be enough grounds to automatically send them to adult …show more content…
Carla was not only a proud gang member, she also became a leader in her gang. She committed various crimes but was essentially caught for being the shooter in a drive-by with her fellow gang members. Carla knew how to play the system and how to continue getting away with her gang lifestyle. Due to placement under a diligent probation officer, Sharon Stegall, and later being put in a camp and then a school, Carla actually changed her mindset. She figured out how to view life as more than just a gang member. “What the system can accomplish – and what transferring kids to adult court can never do – is to give Carla and others like her the time and opportunity and tools to consider other, more constructive paths in life than gangs and crime and violence” (Humes 370). Carla remained in the juvenile system throughout all of her sentencing and probation time. With placement as a juvenile, instead of an adult, Carla was able to experience new ways of life and was given a second chance. Had she been put in the adult system for any type of crime, she most likely would have just emerged from adult court even more determined to continue leading her gang and crime ridden
While awaiting his sentencing, George was already able to make use of some of the things that juvenile detention offered including getting his GED and participating in a writing class. George most benefits from the setting in juvenile court, and while he was able to be housed in juvenile hall to serve his sentence, if he ever switches to adult prison his success level will surely decrease. Even the workers at the juvenile hall who are close to George understand his need for remaining in the custody of juvenile court. The reforms focused on lowering the age that children, like George, can enter the adult court system only keeps everyone in the process “stubbornly fixated on chronological age as the single most important factor in deciding who should be treated as a kid and who would be viewed as a legal adult” (Humes 359). Meanwhile, the seriousness of the crime, the child’s background and previous criminal record, whether or not the child may respond to rehabilitation and any treatment that the child may need should all be taken into consideration. Solely focusing on the age of the child and maybe the crime, should not be enough grounds to automatically send them to adult …show more content…
Carla was not only a proud gang member, she also became a leader in her gang. She committed various crimes but was essentially caught for being the shooter in a drive-by with her fellow gang members. Carla knew how to play the system and how to continue getting away with her gang lifestyle. Due to placement under a diligent probation officer, Sharon Stegall, and later being put in a camp and then a school, Carla actually changed her mindset. She figured out how to view life as more than just a gang member. “What the system can accomplish – and what transferring kids to adult court can never do – is to give Carla and others like her the time and opportunity and tools to consider other, more constructive paths in life than gangs and crime and violence” (Humes 370). Carla remained in the juvenile system throughout all of her sentencing and probation time. With placement as a juvenile, instead of an adult, Carla was able to experience new ways of life and was given a second chance. Had she been put in the adult system for any type of crime, she most likely would have just emerged from adult court even more determined to continue leading her gang and crime ridden