Burning Down The House Summary

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Nell Bernstein, the author of Burning Down The House: The End Of Juvenile Prison has a very strong opinion about juvenile facilities. He believes that children do not learn to correct their behavior by being forced into these facilities because the main root of their behavior stems from their “broken” family structures, in more cases than not. This is supported from the text when he states “In fact multiple studies have shown that putting youth behind bars not only fails to enhance public safety; it does just the opposite, driving low-level delinquents deeper into criminality and increasing the likelihood that they will end up behind bars again and again.” Bernstein really tries to push his audience to agree with his opinion; to stop putting …show more content…

This method is presented accurately when discussing how the first juvenile facility in 1825, The House of Refuges, would discipline it’s youth. “The children were divided into five categories, based on their perceived character[...] On the rewards front, the best of the lot could aspire to a distinctive badge, the punishment system was more elaborate.” This example heavily emphasizes cause & effect based off the fact that the inmates would be rewarded with a badge for their good behavior, or if they were acting up their disciplines would vary from loss of “play hours” to even corporeal punishment. Cause & Effect can be conveyed throughout the whole book if you look at the aspect that the kids who grew up with a corrupted household usually resort to violence, it will then get them sent to prison which furthermore leads to your rights violated. On the other hand if you do have a stable support system, or good behavior you have a lesser chance at being sent to prison. The whole idea that a simple aspect of your life that you have no control over like a corrupted household can affect your life in a positive or negative way is really eye opening because for those kids who do not have family support have to learn this on their own which can be hard, given that they are only

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