Juvenile Delinquency - Youths in Adult Prisons

YOUTHS IN ADULT PRISONS

Introduction

One of the most important developments in United States criminal justice system has been development of distinct justice system for the youth and juveniles . Before the onset o 20th century , there was not distinction made between juvenile and adult offenders and crime was considered a crime whether committed by a minor or by an adult and the punishment was equally applied . However , the revolution started in Illinois in 1899 when a distinct juveniles system was set up and since then juvenile criminal justice system has been

instituted in other systems with an emphasis on the rehabilitation of the youths . However , this development increasingly came under attack towards the end of the 20th century due to increased rates of juvenile crimes . The rapid increase in juvenile criminal crimes was blamed on ineffective juvenile justice system and states reversed to the earlier policy of getting tough on crimes , a policy which has seen thousands of juveniles incarcerated in adult prisons . Research has however proved that incarceration of juveniles in adults prisons increased their rates of recidivism since it provides them with an atmosphere to graduate to radical criminals . In their teen years , juveniles are not in control of their criminal actions and therefore incarcerating them in adult criminals provides them with an appropriate environment to learn from other criminals . Instead , they should be incarcerated in juvenile detention facilities where they can be rehabilitated to become good citizens in the future

Incarcerating Juveniles in adult prisons will not...