Youth in the adult judicial and prison system

Transferring youth into the adult criminal court system and jails is a growing concern. Transferring youth into the adult judicial systems/ prisons is inappropriate for two reasons. The first reason being that youth are not able to make decisions like adults, and therefore cannot be held to the same standards. We have all seen the studies that show how a teen’s brain is not fully developed and cannot process decision making and impulse control as adult brains do. Treating them as an adult is unfair and inappropriate.

The second is the negative impact on youth, as it is a turn from the goals of the youth judicial system: treatment and rehabilitation. Putting them in adult prisons not only puts their safety at risk, but it also increases their expose to negative behavior. Adult systems are designed to be punitive, and detract from the juvenile courts goals. Adult prisons are also not designed to meet the educational or emotional needs of teens.

With mandatory sentencing guidelines that place youth into adult systems, it also has long term effects for teens that have an adult record. It makes it harder for them to enter the job market, use public housing, and leaves them with a negative stigma that will follow them their whole life.

Youth need to remain in the juvenile system and should not be transferred into adult prisons until they are adults (18). The whole prison system should be focused on recidivism and one method is by keeping youth in the appropriate judicial venue and prisons.

See the link below for more information:

http://www.cnn.com/2010/CRIME/01/15/connecticut.juvenile.ages/index.html?hpt=T2