Teen+Criminals

Youth criminals shouldn't be treated as adults ; LIONEL ROBERTS Greensboro News/Record 04-06-2008

Youth criminals shouldn't be treated as adults Byline: LIONEL ROBERTS Edition: News & Record Section: Classifiedsdeas Type: News

There is little doubt that young people are our future. At ages 16 and 17, they rest upon the cusp of adulthood. Their arrival at this critical juncture renders them vulnerable to a variety of things that affect their behavior. Budding personalities and a thirst for independence combine with the acceptance or rejection of peers to cloud their thoughts and shape their actions.

Youth of this age group are often confused about themselves and their upcoming place in the world. Inexperience, lack of understanding and perspective make it difficult for these would-be adults to function as such. These factors and more are probably the reason the "age of consent" is recognized nationwide at 18. The U.S. Supreme Court has also recognized this group's importance and vulnerability. In 2005, it ruled that citizens could no longer be executed for crimes committed before age 18. The Supreme Court's opinion was shaped by medical research that convinced the justices that juveniles are not mature enough to grasp the consequences of their actions until at least 18. In light of these facts and others, there is broad consensus that those under 18 are not adults.

Unfortunately, our state does not see things this way. North Carolina is one of only a few states that automatically consider 16- and 17-year-olds to be adults when they have contact with our criminal justice system.

Obviously, some crimes are so serious a teen must be tried as an adult. I believe a judge should make that decision as each case will be different. But a law that automatically sends youth to adult jails is cruel.

I don't understand the logic that created and upheld this law in our state. At what point did we come to view our children's futures as expendable?

Our state believes the harsh punishment of the adult criminal system deters juvenile crime. Yet many studies from around the nation prove that this is not the case.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently released a study finding that teens placed in the adult justice system are 34 percent more likely to be arrested again than those placed in the juvenile system. This is itself a crime when you consider that most young people who are placed in the adult system by this law have not committed serious violent crimes. If they are convicted, they are permanently hindered as citizens before they can even exercise the rights of an adult. Their search for jobs, the ability to vote, along with other important rights and opportunities, are diminished.

The placement of juveniles in our adult justice system greatly reduces their chances of becoming successful adults.

Juveniles who become incarcerated in adult facilities are more likely to be abused, become mentally ill and be arrested again than those who benefit from the counseling and treatment available in the juvenile system. Research released late last year by the Campaign for Youth Justice says "youth have the highest suicide rates of all inmates in jails. Youth are 36 times more likely to commit suicide in an adult jail than in a juvenile detention facility."

Many think lack of money is a good enough reason for not bringing teens into the juvenile system. Directing our money and effort toward the root of problems in our adult justice system would lead to long-range savings.

Preventing larger numbers of youth from entering the adult justice system would eventually decrease the inmate population in these jails. Staff no longer needed could bolster the personnel in juvenile detention centers. More money should be allocated to augment and increase the number of court officials, counselors and rehab programs.

The lives of errant juveniles could be changed for the better if they receive the support services they sometimes need. Our money would be well spent if it turned a teen's life around before the adult system destroyed it.

Lionel Roberts is a News & Record community columnist.

(Copyright 2008)