Stop Juvenile Crime

An inside look on juvenile detention by Steve Mitchell

When people think of crime, rarely do they think of children offenders. It is evident, however, that juvenile crime is an issue in society today. The question that remains is whether or not these juveniles are mistreated by the justice system. This is a difficult question to answer, and there are many factors to consider in determining the effectiveness of the current system. In many cases, youths feel that they were pressured into or saw no better option than to participate in criminal behavior. After reading Mark Salzman’s True Notebooks and various articles on juvenile crime, it is evident that minors are not given the proper help they deserve to better themselves for their future.

Many of the youths in juvenile detention grow up in environments that enforce criminal behavior. It can therefore be hard to escape the appeal of a life of crime because leaders of groups like gangs often lead an attractive lifestyle amongst individuals living in poor inner-city areas. Elijah Anderson explores potential causes of criminal life in his book The Code of the Street, and why crime is so well established in these urban environments. Many of the children living in these surroundings do not understand how to properly handle situations, and instead “they learn that to solve any kind of interpersonal problem one must quickly resort to hitting or other violent behavior,” (E. Anderson 174). These children understand that power and violence is practically the onl
y way to be successful and survive. Often times the parents in these homes are abusive because the only method they know to correct, and therefore punish, their child’s unwanted mannerisms is through violence. These kids will then bring this aggressive behavior to the streets. In addition to violence in the homes, children can be drawn towards joining gangs, where they may seek this lifestyle as a form of protection from other enemy gangs in neighboring cities or races. Many of the juveniles featured in True Notebooks, like Francisco, understand that many people living in these dangerous areas resort to a life of crime. For Francisco, “‘writing gives [them] a way of telling people what it’s like, growin’ up with violence all around, no positive role models, crazy shit happenin’ all the time at home,’” (Salzman 173). Salzman organized a writing class for a few juveniles at L.A. Juvenile Hall, where many expressed the challenges they faced growing up and participating in gang behavior. Some felt that once they understood the extent of their criminal behavior, it was ‘too late,’ since their gangs prohibited the option of leaving. Of course, it was the youth’s decision to partake in criminal behavior. People should, however, become aware of these youths’ backgrounds before condemning them as ‘hard criminals.’

The juvenile justice system does not seem to make an appropriate effort in treating juveniles with the help they deserve. Many are therefore mistreated and are not given the opportunity to change themselves for the better. In general, people are now more inclined to punish the juveniles for their actions rather than help them improve their behavior. David Anderson’s article “When Should Kids Go to Jail?” describes the injustices exhibited by the judicial system. In fact, a few juveniles are even condemned because they “look like ‘hard-core’ juvenile career criminals… [Legislators] required juvenile courts to impose determinate or mandatory minimum sentences based on the severity of the crime rather than the needs of the offender,” (D. Anderson 77). These legislators, on the other hnd, are spending much less time focusing on ways to uncover the reasons that reinforced these bad behaviors. Legislators should consider the juveniles’ childhood environment as a possible explanation for their misdemeanors and work to create a better environment to promote a healthier and crime-free lifestyle.

Furthermore, it seems that prosecutors, now mostly in charge of the decision to send the offenders to juvenile court or adult court, are discriminating against minority youth, as described in an article written by Building Blocks. They are quicker to try a juvenile in the adult system if they are a part of a minority group, providing them with “little or no hope [of] education or any form of rehabilitation. This is tantamount to throwing away their lives and giving up all hope for their future,” (Building Blocks 75). These juveniles should receive the same treatment as others charged with similar offences. When they are tried as adults, even the majority who are found not guilty will be released immediately after the trial is over. The problem is that many will therefore not be rehabilitated and will continue criminal activity. In addition, those who are charged with more serious offense are not given decent attorneys to plead their cases. Salzman was shocked at the brevity of the case presented by the lawyer of another one of his students, Kevin, and he “assumed [he] must have heard [Mr. Kinion, the lawyer,] wrong; he couldn’t be finished. He had called only one witness, someone who was not even connected to the case on trial. Wasn’t Kevin going to testify?” (Salzman 284). Although murder should never be taken lightly, Mr. Kinion’s performance was more than underwhelming, and perhaps Kevin’s case would have had a different outcome if he had been provided with a more enthusiastic lawyer. Without the proper support from the justice system, these juveniles cannot be represented properly and given the opportunity to show their growth as a person in court.

Once a juvenile is in juvenile detention, they are, or should be, given proper care for rehabilitation; yet despite treatment, a problem likely remains in the environment, not just the individual. Once rehabilitated, the person will still return to the same hostile environment, which could reinforce the previously instilled criminal behavior that the child worked so hard to suppress and alter while in detention. When asked if Francisco’s opinion about gang behavior changed, he agreed. Nevertheless, he does not think it will “solve anything. What [they] think in [there] don’t matter to people on the outs,” (Salzman 250). While some are changed, many will find it challenging to resist the criminal life they led prior to detention. They may not know other means of survival, since many come from poor families. Furthermore, being part of a gang increases the difficulty of leaving street life, since many expect the youths to continue after their return home. They would have to work extremely hard to oppose these gangs because it could be life-threatening to abandon their former comrades. Enemy gangs could still recognize the youth as their adversary, and without the protection of his own gang, the youth would be relatively defenseless. One possible way to prevent this, and possibly avert criminal behavior altogether, would be to provide a better environment in the home. Social workers could intervene “in the lives of children and teenagers ‘at risk’ of delinquency in hopes of averting criminal behavior before it starts. Research documents some success,” (D. Anderson 79). These children may be subject to less abuse, and experience less violent forms of punishment, therefore decreasing their chances of acquiring aggressive mannerisms. While intervention may not immediately affect gang activities, perhaps it can reduce the number of youths who choose to become gang members. Hopefully, over time, these gangs and other criminal groups will attract fewer youths.

Improving the mechanics of the juvenile criminal justice system is important. There should be more focus, however, not only on improving the trial process itself, as in providing better defense attorneys and preventing racial discrimination, but also improving the environment for these youths. Many learn from their surroundings, and are trying to survive in their harsh reality. However, if people could work to change that reality, fewer children will participate in criminal activities.