Juvenile Prison System

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The Juvenile Prison System in America
One of the most debated topics in our country is our American prison system, and where juvenile justice fits into the equation. For centuries, philosophers, law makers, court systems, child advocates, and critics have struggled to define justice for juveniles, they are constantly seeking to improve the concept but still have no clear cut or definite answer to justify their punishment. What is justice (punishment) for juvenile who violates the law? How should a just society judge young offenders in America? When is it proper to punish a child as a criminal? What should be the appropriateness of punishing a juvenile should be? In what form should the punishment be? What justifies the practice or punishment …show more content…

These legislative changes sparked the rise in youth serving time in adult criminal justice facilities (i.e., jails and prisons) (Davis, A., Gentile, A., & Glesmann, C., 2015). Not only does this dilemma add an extra stress to the operation and staffing of each facilities charged with overseeing these young offenders, but it also directly clashes with the research showing that housing youth in adult correctional facilities is very harmful to the juveniles on several levels such as not being equipped to meet adolescent’s need, does not have age appropriate educational, medical, or rehabilitative services, and are not designed for young people to be incarcerated with adults (Davis, A., Gentile, A., & Glesmann, C., 2015). These conditions subject them to have inappropriate development, and caused them to be physically and emotionally unsafe; these conditions coincide with rehabilitative goals of aiding an offender to be a better person (Davis, A., Gentile, A., & Glesmann, C., 2015). In addition, research shows that juveniles confined in adult facilities are exposed to seasoned offenders and, as compared to youth who are placed in juvenile facilities, are more likely to recidivate with more severe crimes upon release after serving their current sentence (Hahn et al.2007; Redding 2010; Fagan, Kupchik, & Liberman 2007; Johnson, Lanza

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