Juvenile Detention Makes Teens Worse Essay - 1742 Words

There are numerous critics of the juvenile justice system, and while most of their denunciations remain the same as those of the justice system at large, an ample portion of their criticisms revolve around the claim that incarcerating young people not only doesn’t work in deterring or rehabilitating them, but makes them worse and leads to adult misconduct. A report noted that youth sent to juvenile prison were 37 times more likely to be arrested as adults (Szalavitz, 2009). Another major problem some cite with the juvenile justice system is that most delinquent offends have some form of mental illness, and that while studies have shown that mental health treatment would be a better alternative, they are simply ignored or incarcerated†¦show more content†¦Louis neighborhood. Not surprisingly, St. Louis is a hotbed of criminality, being constantly ranked in the top 5 most dangerous cities in the country as well as holding a higher average of gun related homicides than m ost urban cities. On top of the environment he grew up in, Quantel’s mother also used and sold crack-cocaine from their home (Initiative, 2007). Although little data is present to substantiate such claims, it can be inferred that during this time Quantel’s educational progress was probably stunted. As stated before, there is no evidence to support such data, but even if he was going to school, the fact that no one noticed his condition (which will be discussed) is amazing and is a failure not only of the school he went to, but of adult figures in his life. Nonetheless, Quantel was removed from his home at the age of eight for undisclosed reasons, but was documented to have been heavily neglected at the time of his withdrawal, with authorities reporting that he was heavily scared from obvious beatings, had rotten teeth, and smelled heavily of urine. After her was taken from his mother he was shuffled in and out of the foster care system, living with three separate families before moving in with his father and step-mother in St. Francois County, a mostly white, rural middle-class neighborhood in Missouri. Living with his father, Quantel made contact with his mother once again, and when he was only eleven-years-old witnessed his uncle getShow MoreRelatedJuvenile Offenders And Juvenile Delinquency1610 Words   |  7 PagesJuvenile delinquency, also known as juvenile offending, is participation in illegal behavior by minors8. A juvenile delinquent in the United States is a person who is typically under the age of 17 and commits an act that otherwise would have been charged as a crime if they were an adult. Depending on the type and severity of the offense committed, it is possible for persons under 18 to be charged and tried as adults. Juvenile crimes can range from status offenses (such as underage smoking), toRead MoreJuvenile Detention : A Second Chance Towards Life1425 Words   |  6 PagesSeptember 2014 Juvenile Detention, a second chance towards life The juvenile court established in Chicago in 1899 defines a juvenile as a youth who is not old enough to be held responsible for his crimes. Every state has a standard threshold for age, which classifies the person as an adult or minor. Accordingly, they are prosecuted in the adult or juvenile courts as per their age. United States have experienced an increase in its crime rate in the last few decades. The number of juvenile crimes has increasedRead MoreThe Missouri Model Of Juvenile Justice1363 Words   |  6 Pagesof juvenile justice was born after a 1969 federal report condemned quasi-penal-military atmospheres found in juvenile jails (Mendel 2010). Institutions that follow the Missouri Model focus on restorative justice, access to group treatment, individual therapy, and a humane environment. Juvenile offenders have basic necessities such as food and shelter, but also have access to education, recreation, health care, and counseling, all provided in a safe atmosphere. The Missou ri Model of juvenile justiceRead MoreEssay on Juvenile Delinquency1652 Words   |  7 PagesJuvenile Delinquency Everyday we read in the newspaper or watch T.V and hear news of crimes committed by Juveniles. With all of the crime being reported by the media about juveniles, one can’t help but wonder if all of our nation’s youth are juvenile delinquents. Although there are many cases where the juvenile did not commit a serious crime, there are others where the crime is so bad the juvenile court system tries the juvenile as an adult. Instead of seeking help for the individual, our justiceRead MoreThe Causes of Juvenile Delinquency and Crime Essay1432 Words   |  6 PagesThe social environment of teens holds an enormous influence on how the teens act and behave. Teens are easily influenced by their surroundings and they look to others for guidance. Their behavior results from that of the parent and peer influences. Parents play a particularly influential role in their child’s life and it is up to them to make sure that they are leading their sons or daughters in the right d irections. A teen’s peers also play a large role in how the teen behaves when the parents areRead MoreAdolescent Violence And Youth Violence2265 Words   |  10 Pageswrongdoings. There are a few variables that make singular high schoolers more inclined to be included in adolescent violence. Teens who are on medications will probably be the casualties or culprits of high school violence than different teenagers (Merino, 2010). The time soon after school gets out is the most perilous for high schoolers, particularly if that time is spent far from the supervision of mindful grown-ups (School Violence in America, 2015). Teens who experience difficulty adapting to issuesRead MoreIneffective Parents in Todays Society Essay795 Words   |  4 Pagesto how they raise their children. Though there are parents who do a wonderful job raising their children, many parents neglect their responsibility in child development. In this paper, the following will be discussed: the diversion th e government makes in the operation of parental duties when it steps in to discipline a young person, and the parents teaching discipline in values and morals. There are times when government action prevents parents from developing the child themselves. According toRead MoreJuveniles Should Not Be Prison1914 Words   |  8 PagesJuveniles in Jail Into days society there is a lot of debate and discussion on whether or not Juveniles should be sentenced to life in prison. Take in consideration that were talking about kids as young as like 6 years old. People talk about whether it’s right or not in other country’s they even banned the death penalty. Different people believe in different things. For example a group of people believe that juveniles should be sentenced to life in jail if they commit a heinous crime. Then thereRead MoreJuveniles Should Not Be Prison1903 Words   |  8 Pagesdiscussion on whether or not Juveniles should be sentenced to life in prison. Take in consideration that were talking about kids as young as like 6 years old. People talk about whether it’s right or not in other country’s they even banned the death penalty. Different people believe in different things. For example a group of people believe that juveniles should be sentenced to life in jail if they commit a heinous crim e. Then there are people that believe that the juveniles should not be sentenced toRead MoreRace, Class, And Gender Contribute For Youth Delinquency1205 Words   |  5 Pagesworld and how they mesh with the norms in the United States. Racism has deep roots in American culture and as a result has been a means to punish people more harshly in the judicial system. In the film Juvies (2005), teens were interviewed about their experiences in formal detention and what factors led to their incarceration. African Americans and Hispanics were at a disadvantage when they faced sentencing and as a result were more likely to be transferred to adult prisons or have increased sentences