Persuasive Essay: The Juvenile Justice System Is Rehabilitation

Did you know that about 250,000 juveniles are tried, sentenced, and incarcerated as adults every year across the United States? Juveniles can be seriously harmed going through prison at so young. These harms could be physical or mental, like being bullied or developing depression. Not to mention, they will also learn wrong life lessons and will struggle outside of jail. Juvenile offenders should be sent/have the opportunity to go to rehab because rehab helps juveniles transition back into society; their brains aren’t developed enough to consider consequences, and prisons aren’t suited for juveniles.

Adult prisons are not suited for juvenile offenders. Prisons can be a dangerous place for kids/teens. Prisons are often violent, overcrowded, and inhumane. Prisons mainly focus on punishment rather than rehabilitation, leading incarcerated people to be taken advantage of by corrupt officers. This is no place for kids, especially with all their extra needs, like social training and mental health support. An article called “Prison is a Poor Deterrent, and a dangerous punishment” says, “Prisons generally do not require that correctional officers receive appropriate training to deal with youth populations, nor do they offer training on the social, emotional, or psychological needs of young people” (2). This quote shows prisons can’t provide the rehabilitation that juvenile offenders need. The guards don’t have the proper training to deal with juveniles, nor the funding to suit them.

Their brains aren’t developed enough to consider the consequences of their actions. Juveniles mainly act on feeling, not reasoning. Juveniles on average are more impulsive, aggressive, and are more willing to take risks compared to adults. So, when in a stressful situation, juveniles will more than likely not think about consequences later on. An article called “Experts Link Teen Brains’ immaturity, Juvenile Crime” says, “...the juvenile brain is still maturing in the teen years and reasoning and judgment are developing well into the early to mid 20s” (4). The quote explains how teens lack fully developed reasoning and judgment skills. Without these skills, they give in to peer pressure. For this reason, rehabilitation centers can teach juveniles how to resolve situations in better ways, whereas in prison, they don’t get that option.

Rehab helps juveniles transition back into society. Unlike prisons, juvenile detention centers know what juveniles need to strive in society. Prisons lock people up in a cell and let prisoners think on their own, which often results in mental problems. Instead, rehabilitation focuses on helping juveniles get better and help them realize their wrongs instead of brutally punishing them for it. For example, the article “Prison is a Poor Deterrent and a Dangerous Punishment” states, “The juvenile justice system was created to treat young offenders… in a system that provides proper rehabilitative services that can transform youth into productive members of society” (4). Rehabilitation allows juveniles to have a second chance at life. They learn how to resolve problems without using violence and how to work with others. Rehabilitation can truly improve someone’s life.

Juvenile offenders should have the chance to go to rehabilitation instead of sending them to adult prisons. This is a better option because it helps juveniles transition back into society; their brains aren’t developed enough to consider consequences, and prisons aren’t suited for juveniles.