Video Discussion 5 The United States grapples with a troubling reality: it incarcerates more children than any other developed country. Despite comprising only 4% of the global population, the US accounts for a staggering 22% of the world's prison population. These statistics paint a grim picture of a justice system in need of reform, particularly concerning its treatment of juvenile offenders. Though he came out a changed man, Jeff Wallace's journey through the juvenile justice system shows how much change is needed within the system. After committing a serious offense involving assault and theft, he faced 11 years behind bars, spending some of his time in solitary confinement. Wallace was placed in an adult corrections institution, surrounded …show more content…
Through these experiences, Wallace learned invaluable lessons, like respect, protecting the weak, becoming humbler, and practicing retraining. Upon his release, Wallace began trying to make a better life for himself. He started working at Taco Bell, while also finishing school and getting his bachelor’s in paralegal studies. Currently pursuing a PhD in criminal justice, Wallace has been working to spread insight on the juvenile justice system and aid those juveniles in the system (TEDx Talks). However, Wallace’s story is not the norm. In fact, many people who enter the system as juveniles will end up as adult prisoners. Harry Grammer, an activist for juveniles, recognizes that juveniles, though they have committed crimes, are still children. He discusses the overwhelming statistics regarding juvenile incarceration. He says, “The United States incarcerates more children than any other developed country in the world; we are 4% of the world's population, but we house 22% of the world's prisoners. Incarcerated kids only have about a 30 percent chance to not become an incarcerated adult now,” (“Incarcerated Children Are Still Children. | Harry Grammer |