About a week ago, I toured the Juvenile Detention Center located in Egg Harbor City. This facility houses criminals who have committed their offense under the legal age of adulthood. Being able to tour this facility was extremely eye opening and unlike what I expected, as well as jails I have previously toured. My reaction regarding the Juvenile Detention Center was much like my peers, except, a few things stuck out to me, I recognized both positive and negative conditions during the visit.
Upon arriving, there were double doors which required one to be closed while the other was opened, this indicated to me that this was a secured facility. Although, immediately after entering the main entrance area was decorated with a festive Christmas
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Living quarters were painted and appeared much like a school. My initial reaction to the female living quarters, also known as foxtrot, was that it was a classroom. It was only until Mr. Wilson showed us the beds in the back, that I realized the area was used as their living space, bathroom, study room, and more. The area had video games, lockers and seating to relax on their down time. It seemed luxurious in regards to jail living quarters.
I believe, that the positive and negative differences I noticed are necessary for the Juvenile Detention Center. These juveniles are there because they have committed criminal offenses that require them to be locked up. But, the purpose and main goal of juvenile corrections are focused on rehabilitation. I think that this facility provides the right amount of correction and rehabilitation to try and guide these juveniles to a better path in life.
In conclusion, my trip to the Juvenile Detention Center was enjoyable. I could see the differences in facilities between jails and Juvenile Detention Centers. Rehabilitation truly seemed to be most important at the facility. Juveniles are educated, separated from negative peer pressure, and have limited interference from the outside world. Their sole-purpose is to correct these Juveniles into full functioning