Tossing Kids in Jail for Decades Doesn’t Help Them Stay out of Trouble
Longer sentences aren’t a recipe for success for kids who commit crime.
Locking kids up for long periods of time doesn’t increase the odds that they won’t get into trouble again after their release, according to a study that tracked 1,300 juvenile offenders for seven years after their first contact with the court system. While more severe punishment isn’t a recipe for success after release, teens’ perception of whether or not they will be punished does have an effect on how likely it is they’ll commit a crime, according to the findings from the federal Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention.
Risk perception is a key factor that contributes to a teen’s choice to commit a crime. The risk of arrest, the likelihood of conviction, and the costs of punishment are all weighed by teens who commit serious offenses, according to the study. The findings are important for policy makers tasked with choosing sentences designed to deter future crime.
- Read more about why this research matters when thinking about the U.S. justice system here on TakePart.com -