Juvenile Imprisonment and Punishments

Juvenile Imprisonment and Punishments

Based on public concern and legislative actions about juvenile violence, one would think that it was continually increasing. Juvenile violent crime rates, however, have been declining for at least the past five years. Nevertheless punishment for juvenile crimes tends to become harsher as the years go by. What is the logic behind that? I think that juveniles who commit crime are in line for punishment but it should not go as far as imprisonment or the death penalty.

The juvenile Justice system was established with the goal of diverting youthful offenders from the destructive punishments of criminal courts and encouraging rehabilitation. Now with this being the goal of the U.S. juvenile justice system why must a juvenile suffer the harsh consequences of an adult? During the past decade, juvenile crime legislation and policy have become more penalizing and have blurred the lines between juvenile and adult justice systems causing minors to be prosecuted as an adult and endure adult sentences. Studies show that most of these are for crimes that the minor should have been prosecuted as a juvenile. These juveniles are vulnerable and end up with negative effects from being in the prison environment.

It’s expected to think that juvenile criminals will continue this behavior into adulthood but it id not likely. Although a large portion of adolescents gets arrested and an even larger proportion commit illegal acts, only a small proportion commits serious crimes. Furthermore, most of those who engage in illegal behavior as adolescents do not become adult criminals. With the use of juvenile halls minors are able to get help to rehabilitate themselves so they do not become adult criminals. So what is the use of sending a juvenile to prison? Prison promotes a negative environment for adolescents and only separates them from positive influences such as family, school, and programs made to prevent them from committing crimes. Overcrowding is an issue in correctional facilities but there is an answer to this problem. The federal government should assist the states through federal funding and incentives to reduce the use of secure detention and secure confinement by developing community-based alternatives.

Juveniles are currently able to be sentenced to the death penalty a punishment that many disagree that a juvenile should endure. Recent polls found that 64 percent of support the death penalty,