What Does It Say About America That We Jail Teens for Having Sex or Being Late to School?

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What Does It Say About America That We Jail Teens for Having Sex or Being Late to School?

Have to keep the Private Prison system in business!

By Birth Control Works

Politics • June 2012 • Views: 2,000

alternet.org

In some studies cited by Brook, states with efforts to halt or reverse the incarceration of youth actually saw a drop in violent crimes committed by under-18s; in other words, the incarceration was increasing crime, not reducing it.

Young people, especially those without resources, will make mistakes and cause trouble, but there are better ways to hold young people accountable than tossing them in prison. One way to start reforming the criminal justice system would be to take a second look at the way it handles, categorizes and “rehabilitates” young people, and consider alternatives.

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12 comments

nines09 Sat, Jun 9, 2012 10:48:46am

It says to me that the powers that be and the people who listen to them have become fearful smaller meaner people with issues that scream “It’s all THEIR fault.” To throw the book and slam someone into lockup for what once was petty and youthful mistakes is just plain wrong. I saw what lockup did to non violent and those unfortunates who just tripped over the wires put there by vengeful idiots who were going to “teach a lesson.” The lesson learned was to be meaner and more violent and do unto others just what had been done to them. Jail is a school. You learn things you can take outside with you. I knew a few who learned quite a bit. To make a further point, just think of all of those people who smoked pot as a youth and now for whatever reason would lock your kids ass up in a heartbeat “because.”
Private Prisons feed on society. Think of it as having your cake and eating it too. Who’s not caught yet?

Romantic Heretic Sat, Jun 9, 2012 11:19:58am

It means that we here in North America, especially those who identify as conservatives, are the biggest control freaks in history. Despite our mythology about freedom and personal responsibility we much prefer a society that is tightly controlled.

It also reflects the unspoken assumption that children are property and property does what it’s told.

Achilles Tang Sat, Jun 9, 2012 6:45:42pm

I’m sympathetic to the principle of not treating juveniles as adults, but I also don’t see where sending them back to a family or neighborhood with a criminal history is going to make much difference either.

Alison Parker, the U.S. program director for Human Rights Watch, argues the laws should change. “Common sense says that kids are different from adults,” she says. “Kids can grow and change. They are extremely unlikely to reoffend.”

I think that last sentence is BS. Unlikely to re offend if what?

Kruk Sun, Jun 10, 2012 3:03:28am

Case in point:

Honour student who works multiple jobs to support her siblings is thrown in jail for missing too many days of school.

[Link: rt.com…]

FemNaziBitch Sun, Jun 10, 2012 7:55:39am

re: #3 Achilles Tang

I’m sympathetic to the principle of not treating juveniles as adults, but I also don’t see where sending them back to a family or neighborhood with a criminal history is going to make much difference either.

I think that last sentence is BS. Unlikely to re offend if what?

Truancy and other such infractions really equals “criminal history”? This is just a way to keep the prisons full. No other reason.

Achilles Tang Sun, Jun 10, 2012 8:42:26am

re: #5 ggt

Your argument sounds paranoid conspiratorial. Do you really think the entire legal/corrections system is in cahoots to ensure prisons stay full; no other reason?

FemNaziBitch Mon, Jun 11, 2012 11:17:05am

re: #6 Achilles Tang

Your argument sounds paranoid conspiratorial. Do you really think the entire legal/corrections system is in cahoots to ensure prisons stay full; no other reason?

No, I do think there are pockets of influence in which local authorities are being compromised. No, I don’t have any links.

I honestly can’t see any other reason why a Judge would put a teenager in jail for truancy. Since when is that the type of crime one goes to prison for?

Achilles Tang Mon, Jun 11, 2012 11:24:56am

re: #7 ggt

There are always situations that make for anecdotes supposedly proving a larger issue. Perhaps this is one. Perhaps the judge was an ass. Perhaps not all the information was presented initially.

Whatever the reason, truancy is a serious issue. It means we get an uneducated sub culture. It means that most truants are not working a job; they are stealing, partying or otherwise ruining any chances of employment, and what that means to the rest of us.

So far I have heard no suggestions from you on how to deal with it.

FemNaziBitch Tue, Jun 12, 2012 5:23:44am

re: #8 Achilles Tang

There are always situations that make for anecdotes supposedly proving a larger issue. Perhaps this is one. Perhaps the judge was an ass. Perhaps not all the information was presented initially.

Whatever the reason, truancy is a serious issue. It means we get an uneducated sub culture. It means that most truants are not working a job; they are stealing, partying or otherwise ruining any chances of employment, and what that means to the rest of us.

Audit the prison system’s books. Forensic Accounting, look for bribes?

Did you see the link in #1. It isn’t an isolated incident.

Truancy laws for high school are archaic. Forcing a kid to go to school does not in anyway make them students.

Achilles Tang Tue, Jun 12, 2012 5:37:01am

re: #9 ggt

I still hear no suggested solutions from you to a complex issue.

FemNaziBitch Tue, Jun 12, 2012 5:52:26am

re: #10 Achilles Tang

I still hear no suggested solutions from you to a complex issue.

I didn’t realize it was a requirement of posting on the Pages.

Achilles Tang Tue, Jun 12, 2012 7:49:00am

re: #11 ggt

Usually a critique has an associated alternative thought, but you are right that there is no requirement to do so.

We have laws that require schooling, for good reason. Violations need some form of punishment or correction. In some cases jail might send the message, in some cases making children wards of the state might be appropriate, depending on the child, parent(s), and ages. Generalizing from one case solves nothing, but as you said; you just want to be critical for its own sake.

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