Adult Prisons

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Pages: 7

“On any given day, around 10,000 juveniles are housed in adult jails and prisons – 7,500 in jails and 2,700 in prisons, respectively.” (Juvenile 4) However, this is only legal in two states. Juvenile correction facilities were created to separate youth offenders from the atmosphere of adult correction facilities. The separate facility was also made as a tool to deter juveniles from returning to jail or prison and creating a long criminal record in the future. Most states do have a youth correction facility, yet they do not use it rigorously. Putting youth offenders in the appropriate place has benefits that no one can deny. Juveniles should not be charged as adults because adult facilities have the propensity to neglect the rehabilitation …show more content…
Youth offenders who have made a single mistake are thrown into this huge boiling pot and are lost laying at the bottom. Multiple avenues of research have reached the conclusion that the criminal justice system is not prepared to help rehabilitate youth offenders to the best of their ability (Baron 33). Most court appointed defense attorneys have several cases to go through each day. Subsequently, the system does not take the time for each individual, let alone youth offenders. This makes it harder for juveniles to get a fair and speedy trial. While juveniles sit in these adult facilities, they are at a disadvantage in terms of developing their human capital. According to the survey, 40% of jails accommodate education opportunities, but only 11% grant unique education services. Also, a vast 7% maintain vocational training. With this deficiency of constructive brain activeness, it is challenging to return to the world the same. (Baron par. 3) Because less than half of correction facilities implement education opportunities, it becomes very stressful and nearly impossible for any offender, …show more content…
The only other option is for correction officers to separate juveniles from the adult population by imposing a smaller youth offender population. When fights break out once or twice the only other place to send the juvenile is solitary confinement (Baron par. 4). All prisons or prison guards do not make this mandatory. The correction facilities that do not orchestrate this mandate is breaking the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Act regulations. The sight and sound separation regulation states, “To ensures that accused and adjudicated delinquents, status offenders, and non-offending juveniles are not detained or confined in any institution where they may have contact with adult inmates.” (Juvenile Justice 3) In simplest terms, it is required for juveniles to be separated from adult offenders, which included solitary confinement until a year ago. Barack Obama illegalized solitary confinement after Kalief Browder’s personal story was broadcasted. Mr. Browder was in solitary confinement for more than 800 days which is inhumane, for there is laws not to keep animals in a confined space for that long. In an interview, Kalief told reporters “When they sent me to Rikers Island, I was 16. I would say it was like hell on Earth. Sometimes, you know, I feel like I'm never going to be the same. You know, I smile, and I joke