Laws regarding juvenile crimes should provide more options for rehabilitation, rather than harsher punishments. This is because we already tried “tough on crime laws” for juveniles which lead to increased sentencing of juveniles under the age of 18 to adult prisons. However, approaches like this do not seem to deter juveniles, instead juveniles are placed in harsher environments around adults who serve as worse influences. Juveniles are different than adults and should be treated as so. For instance, adults are much more set in their ways and less likely to change old habits, but juveniles are constantly changing and searching for some understanding of who they are. They are younger and have much better odds at being saved and redirected than …show more content…
On the other hand we also cannot use programs like “D.A.R.E” or “Scared Straight” because they actually lead to increased crime. Both are exactly opposite of what juveniles need. Therefore, when dealing with juveniles the goal should be to redirect their paths and help them straighten up so when they are an adult they are a contributing member of society and no longer committing crime. Harsher crimes do not help deter children, rather they place them in an environment around adult criminals that can only make matters worse and they leave them further unequipped to deal the components that are stacked against them. Therefore, if we focus on rehabilitation we can help give juveniles opportunities and equip them to fight the circumstances that are stacked in their favor. Rehabilitation could provide them with hobbies, counseling, education, work, tutors or other kick starters that could help redirect their path. Of course there are circumstances where juveniles need harsher punishment or to be sentenced to adult court, however, that is a much smaller percent to deal with. Therefore, we should not damage the whole using harsher punishments based off the actions of the few. Therefore, juveniles should be given more rehabilitation options instead of harsher