Daniel Solis

Connie S. Douglas
ENG-112-78
December 11, 2014

Group 6: Structured (Report)

Abstract

This report examines the issues of placing juvenile offenders in an adult jail. A
brief explanation of why is counterproductive to place juveniles in the adult criminal
justice system. Why life without Parole should not be possible to juveniles. The efforts to
reduce juvenile incarceration, and how alternative to punishment should be change in
the juvenile justice model. Concluding that the best option for rehabilitation on juvenile
offenders is to be out of jail and to never be placed in an adult prison. Suggesting that a
more familiar environment is better for juveniles to rehabilitate.

Table of contents
Abstract
1.0 Introduction12
2.0 Adult Justice System is counterproductive for juvenile offenders.12
3.0 Life without Parole should not be possible for juvenile offenders.13
4.0 Reducing juvenile incarceration led to positive outcomes13
5.0 Juvenile detention needs different alternatives for punishment..14
6.0 Conclusion15

Daniel Solis
Connie S. Douglas
ENG-112-78
December 11, 2014
1. Introduction

The purpose of this report is to find a different way of punishment for juvenile
offenders and briefly discuss the issues of putting juveniles in an adult jail.

Having read and understand a range of different articles on the topic of putting
juveniles offenders in the criminal adult justice system. They all have one thing in
common that all these articles talk about how the juvenile offenders suffered from
physical and verbal aggressions not just from the inmates, also from the security guard.
The report then considers the possible solution for a change on the punishmentoriented for the juvenile justice system.

Today the juvenile justice system keeps sending juvenile offenders into adult
jails, where most of the time they learn how to survive and become more violent, or
commit suicide. Some of these juveniles have minor crimes like stealing, and either way
they are judged by the adult criminal justice system.

2. Adult system is counterproductive for juvenile offenders

Putting youth in an adult jail is like putting a lamb in a cage full of lions, and it is
extremely difficult to keep them safe. Juveniles are always at risk of physical and sexual
assault. Even if sometimes-young inmates are separated from the adult inmates, risk of
being of physical or sexual attack comes from the security guards as well.

Daniel Solis
Connie S. Douglas
ENG-112-78
December 11, 2014
Youth are frequently locked down for more than twenty hours in isolation, which
is counterproductive because they dont have natural. This kind of environment can
cause anxiety, paranoia, mental disorder, and increased the risk of suicide. Youth are
more likely to commit suicide in an adult jail than in a detention center because of all the
violence they suffered inside adult jails.

3. Life without Parole should not be possible for juvenile offenders

Some states set the maximum penalty of juvenile offenders to life without parole.
Taking youth the opportunity of learning from their mistakes and not giving them a
chance to understand that what they did was bad. Is not the way to do it, leading these
juvenile offender into a better life from the right path might change their life. If they
commit a crime they will pay for it one way or another, but not giving them an
opportunity to rehabilitate is not ethic. If they did wrong us as humans should not do the
same, they can learn and change, or at least the opportunity is on the table and is up to
them if they take it or they let their chance to change their lives go.

4. Reducing juvenile incarceration led to positive outcomes

Reducing the number of youth incarcerations have increased public safety and
cut costs for the state. Whether or not the juvenile offender pose risk to public safety,
the last resort for them should be to separate them from their family or place them into a
more familiar environment in case they have a trouble family. The huge amount of

Daniel Solis
Connie S. Douglas
ENG-112-78
December 11, 2014
money that is being used for youth incarceration should be relocated in a more
community based supervision program while these juveniles are serving their sentence.

This community based supervision program could be as effective as

incarceration, but the environment is healthier for them so they can rehabilitate and
serve their sentence on a more familiar environment.

5.0 Juvenile detention needs different alternatives for punishment

Juvenile detention is an ineffective way to sentence teens. The violence inside
jail and a juvenile facility is extremely bad, besides these facilities does not have the
tools to give youth the education, and values that they need to rehabilitate. Instead they
learn how to be more violent, and either they commit more serious crimes once they get
out or they commit suicide.

There are many other ways to confine youth in a different type of facility, like
group homes, boot camps, residential treatment center, or community service. The most
familiar the environment is the better it will be for juvenile offenders to rehabilitate. The
community based and restorative justice program gives them the opportunity to take
responsibility for their actions and learn how to be better adults.

Daniel Solis
Connie S. Douglas
ENG-112-78
December 11, 2014
6.0 Conclusion
This report has identified some issues and effects that juvenile offenders suffer
while putting into adult jails or detention centers. Some of these problems might be
shocking for some, and others might say: that if they are old enough to commit a crime,
they are also old enough to serve a sentence and suffer for their actions. Sending them
into a place where they will probably be physically and sexually attacked is not the right
way to punish these youth. Is like turning of fire with fire, and if they don't have the
education and values to understand the gravity of their actions someone should teach
them in a more ethic way. Thats why a more community based and restorative justice
model where they can receive the education they need, and finally take responsibility for
their actions. It is the best option for public safety and for the state, because we will
have better citizen, which will make us a better country.

Daniel Solis
Connie S. Douglas
ENG-112-78
December 11, 2014

Group 6: Structured (Report)

The main reason I chose report from group six, is because I wanted to
communicate a little bit of the information I have gathered through out my research and
my analysis about the issues of placing juvenile offenders into adult jails or detention
centers. How these affect them physically and mentally, and how it affects the
community as well.