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Jeremy Dupree

Mrs. Kenly

British Literature

30 April, 2018

The effects of the Juvenile?

Juveniles constitute 1,200 of the 1.5million people in prison in the United States, and

nearly 200,000 youths enter adult criminal justice system each year, most for crimes that are non-

violent. For those youths who face adult imprisonment may be denied education due to the level

of education they can earn a “GED”, is that enough? As well as they will encounter danger being

that young around an adult environment making them an easy target. Juvenile delinquency refers

to antisocial and criminal behavior committed by persons under the age of 18. In this way,

juvenile delinquency is the child and adolescent version of crime. Juvenile delinquency

encompasses two general types of behaviors, status and delinquent offenses. Status offenses are

behaviors that are considered inappropriate or unhealthy for children and adolescents, and the

behaviors are proscribed because of the age of the offender. Such behaviors, if committed by

adults, are not illegal.Stated in this article,”Over the recent years since the 1970s a series of

youth violence, co‐occurring mental health and substance abuse problems among offenders,

female delinquency, and other issues currently confronting the American juvenile justice system

are examined”. To the judicial system it seems to repeat itself by asking the same question should
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they deserve another chance. Only because when juveniles get down to adult system it seems to

be long-term effect it has on them and their families.

For example article” Massachusetts justice system wrestles with how to define adult” , it

argues to change the age to charge a juvenile to 18-years-old. Trying to reform basically the

whole justice system which will lower the recidivism rates. And if the age changes it will change

the way we define adulthood. But in the modern day basically to be 18 it opens access to

adulthood things such as getting married, being able to vote, and many more things. In this case

why should their be an argument in the justice system trying juveniles as adults if they can’t even

do the things adults can do , it's a trap to keep the bad kids in the mindset where they can’t

develop.

What are the rehabilitation techniques available for helping juvenile delinquents?

“From starting as a system that focused primarily on punishments to striving for

rehabilitative goals today, the juvenile justice system has came a long way. Criminal justice

professionals work towards improving the juvenile justice system and effectively rehabilitate

these young offenders.” - SJU

With this statement it shows that they're trying to prevent the problem and help young

offenders out. The programs will make the mind change as we learn in psychology the mind can

get framed at a young age but as you grow older it is harder to sink through, so with that being

said the programs should be giving at a young age to prevent a lot of what's going on and what

will happen. For example one the articles i picked to help with my research “From classroom to

the courts” tells you about how they will try to enforce to develop alternatives to suspending

students, including counseling, and community service and medication. Which they will pick

students who have been documented or getting in trouble since elementary. Which leads to my
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other statement school to prison pipeline that indicates how they're trying to shift the

punishments from being so harsh like i out of school suspension and expelled because it can lead

to a numorse of things such as drop out and future criminals. Instead of punishing them it's better

to cooperate a program to help develop the mindset of are future kids to change them for the

better.

How does sentencing a juvenile delinquent as an adult affect them?

When young offenders get down to the adult justice system it doesn’t only affect them

but their family as well. Having a juvenile delinquent can cause trauma in a household, Such as

large amounts of money needed to pay lawyers Which may lead to counselling. With the parents

when their child gets locked up it makes them come to a sense of feeling like a failed parent.

The development of the mind of the juvenile is affected the most because its a tree that

would be blocked off from light in danger of dying. What i mean when i say that is that it's not

done growing but being in the situation it could be. So young in a environment full of grown

men you either turn into a creature or become the creatures meal but does the justice system

think so, NO. If they did they would not think the reason to charge a minor as an adult is to stop

the mindset from thinking of any criminal activities again.

Once persons reach adulthood, antisocial and criminal behavior is known as crime. In this

way, juvenile delinquency is the child and adolescent version of crime. Juvenile delinquency

encompasses two general types of behaviors, status and delinquent offenses. Status offenses are

behaviors that are considered inappropriate or unhealthy for children and adolescents, and the

behaviors are proscribed because of the age of the offender. Such behaviors, if committed by

adults, are not illegal.

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“When we lock up young people, they are more likely to be exposed to extreme violence,

fall prey to abuse, and suffer from illness. High rates of violence, unchecked gang activity, and

overcrowding persist in Division of Juvenile Justice facilities where many youth sentenced as

adults start their incarceration. Fights frequently erupt in facility dayrooms and school areas.

Even if young people manage to escape direct physical abuse in juvenile or adult facilities,

exposure and proximity to violence can be harmful in and of itself. Research suggests that

exposure to violence can lead to issues with development in youth.” This keeps the mindset of

the young offender still in an criminalized being. It is an mass eruption which makes them live as

if they were still locked when they get out (prison rules). So with this statement the mind is

affected.

The trap we seem to keep getting caught in?

In article, "In Many States, Black Juveniles End Up in Adult Court in High Numbers",

it gives an perfect example. Stated in the summary, “Warren German was 16 years old in 2011

when he got charged for burglary, but with him already having time in an juvenile residential

program prosecutors decided to try him as an adult. With the situation it started a research

showing african american juveniles wind up in adult court in disproportionate numbers.

According to the CED organization the believe when juveniles get tried as an adult it makes a

counterproductive as a strategy for preventing of reduce violence which keeps the hispanics and

blacks to be the largest number incarcerated”. It gives the view of giving another chance when

German got in trouble again not learning his lesson. As well with the article it shows who gets

affected the most. Basically demonstrating the trap we fall into to find are self not being able to

elevate.So with that being said you may be asking so what is the trap in my opinion it's the

second chance on certain crimes instead of exposending the crime keep it their to add a crime on
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their so when you get in trouble it gets worse.

“ Inequality in the juvenile justice system is a problem that is starting to be noticed”. This

Quote has a lot todo with the argument i'm trying to prove they want us as black young males to

be apart of the system. Chargers are more crucial as well more blacks are being charged with life

without parole rather than whites.

Do Juveniles deserve to tried as an adult?

“Juveniles are not allowed to drink, drive, get married, and if they sign legal

contracts, their signatures are invalid. Why? Because studies says juveniles are not capable of

making mature decisions, well-processed decision; due to not living long enough. Juveniles

brains are not fully developed until at least the age of 25. They lack the prefrontal cortex, the

lobe of the brain that helps with reasoning and judgment. Teens also do not have a fully

developed cerebellum, the area of the brain that helps control impulse. Without these two

physical characteristics that separate the men from the boys, teenagers can not possibly be

expected to endure the same consequence as fully matured adults. Research shows that the rate at

which juvenile violators of the law turn their lives around as opposed to older violators is

remarkable. With the use of rehabilitation, psychological guidance, and some punishment is

efficient to teenagers who are convicted of crimes. Sentencing a 12-year old to life in prison just

seems morally unjust, especially when he has a high probability of turning his life around with

some help. I do however think the severity of the crime is important. I do believe that, in some

specific cases, some children who conduct heinous and outrageously violent crimes should be

sentenced more severely, but I still believe in psychological evaluation as the child gets older.

Sentence juveniles as juveniles, because that is what they are. If a juvenile has ever wronged
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you, or caused you major turmoil in your life because of their actions, it is easily understood that

emotion would cause you to feel like a teenager should be tried just as an adult would. But when

dealing with state laws, there needs to be some sort of consistency and we should base our laws

on science and facts.” It supports my argument a lot. When emotion is in a situation, it will be

different every time. But the truth is that teenagers brains are underdeveloped. “So brain research

has shown that the adolescent brain undergoes really quite profound development, and this has

implications for education, for rehabilitation, and intervention.” (Ted Talks -- Sarah Blakemore)

This Ted Talks will give you some insight on how the teenage brain works, and how it shouldn’t

be held accountable to the standard of an adult brain.

Survey

As i used survey monkey it help me get different opinions from random people 22 males

and 5 females about my 5 research questions. For question 1,”Do you agree that rehabilitation

techniques help juveniles?”. Most people choose neither agree nor disagree which I think

would've been my answer as well because sometimes it works sometimes it doesn't i is not an

100% effective. Question 2,”Should juveniles be charged as an adult”,the results was all most

50/50 for both answer chooses and in my opinion it resulted in this because some people might

think you do the crime regardless the age and then for the ones who picked disagree thinks

putting young teens in adult system isn't right. As for question 3,”Does sentencing a juvenile as

an adult affect their education”. The results was most people had choosing strongly agree

probably because they know once you get locked up you basically get that opportunity of
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education snatched away from you due to the environment.Then for question number,” could

getting in trouble in elementary turn into a future delinquent?”. Resulted in most people choosing

neither agree nor disagree and for me i can relate reason for being is because my brother has

gotten in trouble throughout his school years but so did i, but it rolled over into outside of school

which got him locked up but for me i did not.

Also these survey results in all questions help me get a better point of view on how

people look at juveniles some results i can relate to and agree but others are questionable. And

although its all opinions questions some can be justified throw research and articles giving

relating information. For instance question 4,”Does sentencing an juvenile as a adult affect their

education”, article “Juveniles Tried As Adults: What Happens When Children Go to Prison”

states,”There are numerous federal and state laws granting all juveniles the right to education,

which apply to youth in correctional facilities. However, many youth housed in adult facilities do

not have access to any education. A 2005 survey of adult facilities found that 40 percent of the

jails and prisons had no educational services at all.the Individuals with Disabilities Act requires

that incarcerated youth with learning disabilities and other mental disorders be granted education

that serves individual needs and prepares students for college, employment and independent

living. Yet, that same survey found that only 11 percent of correctional facilities provided special

education services and an even smaller 7 percent actually provided vocational training.”
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Work Cited

Bilchik, S. (1999). Minorities in the Juvenile Justice System. U.S. Department of Justice.

Retrieved December 15, 2015, from https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/ojjdp/179007.pdf

Debate.org.http://www.debate.org/opinions/should-juveniles-be-tried-as-adults?ysort=5&nsort=2

From the Classroom to the Courts." Washington Post, 23 Oct, 2017, pp. A.18, SIRS Issues

Researcher, https://sks.sirs.com.

Hazelton, Talitha. "Children Accused of Crimes Shouldn't be in Adult Courts." Palm Beach Post,

08 Mar, 2017, pp. A.12, SIRS Issues Researcher, https://sks.sirs.com.

Huffaker, Christopher. "In Many States, Black Juveniles End Up in Adult Court in High
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Numbers." McClatchy Washington DC News Bureau, 25 Jun, 2017, SIRS Issues Researcher,

https://sks.sirs.com.

"Justice for the Youngest Inmates." New York Times, 21 Nov, 2017, pp.

Juvenile InJustice: Charging Youth as Adults is Ineffective, Biased, and Harmful, Feb. 2017.

Juveniles Tried As Adults: What Happens When Children Go to Prison. Accessed 30 Apr. 2018.

Accessed 30 Apr. 2018.

Kauffman, Gretel. "Massachusetts Justice System Wrestles with how to Define 'Adult'."

Christian Science Monitor, 07 Dec, 2017

Melissa R. Nadel, George Pesta, Thomas Blomberg, William D. Bales and Mark

Greenwald,

Civil Citation, Journal of Research in Crime and Delinquency, 55, 2, (278)

“SJU”https://online.sju.edu/graduate/masters-criminal-justice/resources/articles/improving-effect

Iveness-of-juvenile-justice-program