Final Score: 46/50

Cassidy Kelly

ERWC Period 3

Juveniles Delinquents Deserve Rehabilitation

Each year, approximately 250,000 adolescents are tried, sentenced, or incarcerated as

adults in the United States (Key Facts). This accounts for about 25% of juvenile arrests

annually (Justice). For the ones who are tried in the juvenile justice system, the aim is to heal

the children from the mistakes they have made and to form them into future law-abiding citizens

living productive lives in society. The main goal of the adult justice system is strictly to provide

punishment for the offenders wrong-doing. A major problem that exists in our justice system is

whether or not it is acceptable to try children as adults when they commit a heinous crime but

this could be solved by providing equal treatment for adults as there is for children so that not

child or adult is deprived of fair rehabilitation.

A childs brain is underdeveloped in a way that doesnt excuse them from any crimes

they commit but provides an explanation for their sometimes impulsive and dangerous actions.

Gray matter, which brain researchers believe supports all our thinking and emotions, is purged

at a rate of one percent to two percent a year during this period. Stranger still, brain cells and

connections are only being lost in the areas controlling impulses, risk-taking, and self-control.

These frontal lobes, which inhibit our violent passions, rash actions, and regulate our emotions,

are vastly immature throughout the teenage years (Thompson). Adults instinctively want to be

harsh on children for their incapability of making wise decisions but scientific study provides this

physical evidence that they cannot help their lack of good judgement in these years. Their

brains are not only in a developmental period that is crucial to forming their personality, but is

also breaking down parts of them that help them differentiate right from wrong. In addition the

world being a harsh influence on a childs mind, their own brain is constantly destroying and

rebuilding itself. The areas that are under the most stress are the exact parts that humans

possess to prevent them from being dangerous and reckless. These important sections of the
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brain are underdeveloped more than any other part of the brain in juveniles. A childs brain is

clearly not formed completely and needs nurturing and learning experiences to truly be able to

act without being hasty or irrational.These young people committing crimes have not received

the full knowledge of how harsh the consequences of their actions can be. They are changing

and finding themselves and if they make a mistake, they are immediately thrown into the justice

system, too often one that isnt fit for them. If we continue to put these misunderstood minors in

a system of punishment where they arent learning from their wrongs and taught what is right,

we will continue to miss chances on healing lives that could contribute to our society positively

in the future.

A majority of the children that are tried as adults with long and harsh sentences will

eventually be released out into the world again with all other citizens. Without assistance with

reform, a large percentage of these people will resort to committing crimes again. They will not

have learned the consequences of their mistakes and they will be devoid from knowledge that

would have been taught to them had they been treated as the child that they were before their

crime. There will be adults on the streets with the knowledge of a 12 year old because they will

not have received any education or healing process while being tried as an adult. This

possesses a safety hazard for the rest of America. It is said that, Nationwide, 79 young

adolescents have been sentenced to die in prison; a sentence not imposed on children

anywhere else in the world. These children were told that they could never change and that no

one cared what became of them. They were denied access to education and rehabilitation

programs and left without help or hope (Garinger). 79 juveniles experienced a short glimpse of

the real world before spending the rest of their lives in prison with no quality of life. This is

something that should never occur, especially considering other countries are surviving without

sentencing this level of punishment to any underaged people, regardless of their actions. When

these kids are served these harsh consequences for their actions they arent even given the

chance to start over and heal from what they have done. They make a mistake because they
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dont understand the extremity of their choices and then they are led to believe that there is no

one there to help them redeem themselves and correct their behavior. This will lead children to

believe that they are not worthy of love and care that all people are deserving of. Denying

adolescents the chance to attend programs to help them really is no better than committing a

crime. Even if some children are eventually released into society again it is still equally as bad to

not provide them with assistance in their healing process. If they were not important enough to

receive professional attention, they will feel unworthy and have pent up anger that poses a

threat to everyone all over again. If we are trying our juvenile delinquents as they deserve to be

tried, as juveniles, then they will be released back into society with insight and the abilities to

have better judgement on the decisions that they make. Other people will be safer and they will

be prepared to lead a fruitful life. There is no reason why we shouldnt be providing underaged

citizens who commit crimes with rehabilitation services.

An argument that may be brought up is the question of why adults shouldnt deserve the

same fair chance at healing. A clear solution to this problem is that they are just as good of

candidates for treatment as a child is. All humans make mistakes and every single one of them

deserve a chance to recover from the choices they made, not matter how big or small. If adults

are given the same reform programs as children, then it will be acceptable to try the juveniles

that commit especially violent crimes as adults. There wont be a problem with giving them a

more tenuous sentence as an adult if they are being administered treatment to re-establish a

right mind. The question of whether or not each specific child should be tried in either system

wont exist as a problem because as long as their problems and decisions are being fed the

proper attention and treatment, it doesnt matter what system they are placed under or for how

long. All punishments should be centered around helping the offender to heal and improve their

motives for a productive life in their future.

Juvenile crimes will exist in the nation no matter what. The human brain is going through

its most crucial stages of development during adolescence and it is inevitable that children will
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make mistakes, some worse than others. It is critical that those who commit a harsh crime are

given the treatment they need to repair what they have done, mentally and physically. When we

try children who commit extremely violent crimes as adults they are deprived of this conduct.

Although it may seem beneficial to place a juvenile under the adult system in some

circumstances for a stricter punishment, it is unacceptable because it is ripping a shot at

rehabilitation away from them. If we are able to provide all justice systems with the rehabilitation

programs that they all deserve, the problem of trying a child as an adult will diminish. If all

criminals, old are young, are assisted with their recovery process, we will save the lives of

many. It is especially important that kids are provided with care and treatment after they commit

a crime so that their brains can be properly trained what is right and they can live their lives as

law-abiding citizens if they are released back into everyday life. Through giving juvenile

delinquents the assistance they need to rehabilitate, we will be saving the lives of those who

have committed crimes and of those who could have been the next victim of a crime.

Works Cited

Garinger, Gail. "Juveniles Don't Deserve Life Sentences." New York Times (2012)

Justice, National Center for Juvenile. "Estimated Number of Juvenile Arrests,

2014."Estimated

Number of Juvenile Arrests, 2014. N.p., n.d. Web. 09 Feb. 2017.

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<https://www.ojjdp.gov/ojstatbb/crime/qa05101.asp?qa>.

"Key Facts: Youth in the Justice System." Campaign for Youth Justice

(n.d.): n. pag. Campaign for Youth Justice. Web. 9 Feb. 2017.

<https://www.campaignforyouthjustice.org/documents/KeyYouthCrimeFacts.pdf>.

Thompson, Paul. "Startling Find on Teenage Brains." Sacramento Bee (2001).