IMPLEMENTATION OF EFFECTIVE YOUTH JUSTICE PRACTICE

Implementation of Effective Youth Justice Practice

Implementation of Effective Youth Justice Practice

Youth Crime has been on the rise for some time now, and the legislature has yet to find an effective way to deal with the issue. This has been a problematic issue for decades. Somebody must step forward to defend our society against the violence of uncivilized Youths. I am not suggesting that the offenders be put to death, but an effective plan must be put into action to stop the growing number of violent acts committed by minors (Burnett Appleton 2004). The Youth crime rate in 1996 was much higher than that of Canada's (National Center for Youth Justice). The United Kingdom must keep experimenting with programs that can truly reform children that commit violent crimes. We must take a long look at society today, identify the causes, and find ways to eliminate them in order to protect ourselves.

One way that the United Kingdom has dealt with offenders is to threaten them with adult trials and the possibility of receiving the death penalty. While I strongly agree with the adult trials, I am opposed to the death penalty. I believe there are different programs that could be just as effective without the moral conflict. Sixteen counties have enacted "blended sentencing" which allows the adult court to handle the case. The court can impose adult or Youth sentences or both. Whether the case goes to criminal court is based on the age of the offender and the severity of the crime (Hurst 3). To me, this legislature has promise and can potentially reduce Youth crime. In fact, 1996 was the second year in a row to show a decline in Youth arrests for violent crimes (National Center for Youth Justice). I believe that teens have learned from others who have been sentenced in adult court. Youths have been sent to death row and put in jail for life. Teens can see the horrors of jail life through inmates' interviews, and hopefully learn that if they commit a crime, the punishment will be harsh. It used to be that a Youth could be punished for up to five years in prison, but those days are over. Right now, the death penalty can be imposed.

Another option for teens is to go to rehabilitation centers, where they try to reform the offender. Many people think that this is a foolish waste of time and money, but I don't. Spending money on troubled teens is hardly a waste of money. If we are going to create a better society, it must start with the younger end of the spectrum. By counseling the teens, they can start to rebuild their lives and resume an active role in society. A poll was taken of fourteen Youths on death row and the results were astounding. Each had brain abnormalities and had received a serious head trauma as a child. They also found that the inmates had low IQ's, low mental abilities, ...