Juvenile Delinquents: Can They Still Be Our Future?
Juvenile Delinquents: Can They Still be Our Future?
Children that commit crimes should have an opportunity to be rehabilitated while they are still young instead of becoming institutionalized at a vulnerable age. There is still a chance that these young criminals can still be a useful part of the community. They can be reeducated in the way that society operates, in cognitive development, social skills, job training and marketability. They can even become productive citizens instead of a complete drain on the economy and society as a whole.
Juvenile delinquency is a prevailing problem in America. Arlen Egley and James C. Howell estimated that, “In 2009, there were 28,100 gangs and 731,000 gang members throughout 3,500 jurisdictions in the United States” (1).The numbers show rising and falling trends, but they have remained fairly steady over the last ten years. This study was done specifically for youth gangs and found that the primary reasons that these people are getting into trouble include sexual offense, substance abuse, and inter-gang conflict.
Incarcerating these juveniles in an attempt to keep them off of the street is not enough. Egley continues to say, “Over recent survey years, a majority of respondents report a noticeable effect on the local gang problem when gang-involved individuals return to the community after a period of confinement” (3). The gang activity continues while they are behind bars, and escalates when these juveniles get released. The problem runs much deeper than traditional “rehabilitation” is equipped to handle.
Multiple studies have shown that stiff punishment acts as a deterrent to criminal behavior. Morgan Reynolds states that, “The reality is that the threat of bad consequences, including retribution posed by the legal system, protects life and property against predation” (3). Basically, criminals often know about the consequences they could face before they actually commit a crime. There is usually a period of time that the
Children that commit crimes should have an opportunity to be rehabilitated while they are still young instead of becoming institutionalized at a vulnerable age. There is still a chance that these young criminals can still be a useful part of the community. They can be reeducated in the way that society operates, in cognitive development, social skills, job training and marketability. They can even become productive citizens instead of a complete drain on the economy and society as a whole.
Juvenile delinquency is a prevailing problem in America. Arlen Egley and James C. Howell estimated that, “In 2009, there were 28,100 gangs and 731,000 gang members throughout 3,500 jurisdictions in the United States” (1).The numbers show rising and falling trends, but they have remained fairly steady over the last ten years. This study was done specifically for youth gangs and found that the primary reasons that these people are getting into trouble include sexual offense, substance abuse, and inter-gang conflict.
Incarcerating these juveniles in an attempt to keep them off of the street is not enough. Egley continues to say, “Over recent survey years, a majority of respondents report a noticeable effect on the local gang problem when gang-involved individuals return to the community after a period of confinement” (3). The gang activity continues while they are behind bars, and escalates when these juveniles get released. The problem runs much deeper than traditional “rehabilitation” is equipped to handle.
Multiple studies have shown that stiff punishment acts as a deterrent to criminal behavior. Morgan Reynolds states that, “The reality is that the threat of bad consequences, including retribution posed by the legal system, protects life and property against predation” (3). Basically, criminals often know about the consequences they could face before they actually commit a crime. There is usually a period of time that the
Cited: Brendtro, Larry K. and Mitchell, Martin. “To Restore or Discard: Kids Locked Away for Life.” Reclaiming Children and Youth 16:2. (2007): 24-26. Academic Search Premier. Web. 5 July 2012. Egley, Arlen Jr. and Howell, James C. “Highlights of the 2009 National Youth Gang Survey.” National Criminal Justice Services. Department of Justice. June 2011. Web. 8 July 2012. Kelly, Michael. "A Career Devoted To Helping Youthful Offenders." Corrections Today 69.3 (2007): 28. Academic Search Premier. Web. 18 July 2012. Reynolds, Morgan O. “Does Punishment Deter?” National Center for Policy Analysis. National Center for Process Analysis. 17 Aug. 1998. Academic Search Premier. Web. 7 July 2012. Zaitsev, A.G., G.K. Zaitsev, M.G. Dmitriev, and I. Iu. Apal’kova. “Rehabilitation of the Personality of Juvenile Offenders.” Russian Education and Society 51.11 (2009):50-60. Academic Search Premier. Web. 8 July 2012