In cases of Juvenile arrest rehabilitation not punishment should be streesed

In cases of Juvenile arrest, rehabilitation, not punishment should be streesed Essay written by Ryan King Why would our government try to hurt kids? Well, kids are being hurt right now. You see, in America punishment, rather than rehabilitation is being emphasized for juveniles who commit crimes. This way of thinking must stop with the addition of rehabilitation and prevention programs for juvenile offenders. States vary in their legal definition of a juvenile. In Illinois, …

…continued and further promoted. It is imperative that our federal government set a tone and send the message that juveniles who come in contact with the law are entitled to protections not available to adults. Rehabilitation, not long term imprisonment, should be the goal, and prevention now is preferable to punishment later. 2.3 million juveniles were arrested in 1992. It is in the best interest of America to see that these 2.3 million do not become adult offenders.