Why Juveniles Should Not Be Charged As Adults

The American criminal justice system is the determination of a criminal's fate in the U.S. The topic of teen killers is very prominent in the justice system. While the solution seems simple, the differences of each situation under this topic complicate the action that must occur in the aftermath of these crimes. This is where a divide in opinions occurs. Despite conflicting perspectives on teen killers, there must be a change in the juvenile justice system. Juveniles should not be charged as adults because putting youth in adult jail leads to a life of violence that massively impact mental health and cause a higher rate of recidivism, in addition, juveniles should not be punished for uncontrollable factors that contribute to their crimes.

Situations that occur in jail negatively impact mental health and are also shown in studies to cause higher rates of recidivism among teens. For instance, “When we lock up young people, they are more likely to be exposed to extreme violence, fall prey to abuse, and suffer from illness. High rates of violence, unchecked gang activity, and overcrowding persist in Division of Juvenile Justice facilities where many youths sentenced as adults start their incarceration. Fights frequently erupt in facility dayrooms and school areas.” (humanimpact.org) Subjecting youth to this form of life is immoral. The trauma they will endure will stay with them for the rest of their lives and affect their relationships, interactions, and decisions. Their future after being put in jail is not bright. Not only do these teens face more violence and abuse, but they are also more likely to repeat crimes. As revealed by Phillip Holloway, “Studies show that incarcerating children more often than not results in higher rates of recidivism; essentially, it turns children into hardened criminals.” (Phillip Holloway) Children learn from examples. This is why when teenagers that are susceptible to learning bad behaviors leave jail, they are likely to repeat the actions they saw while incarcerated. These bad behaviors have a direct correspondence with the underdevelopment of adolescent

As indicated by Richard Knox, “... the nerve cells that connect teenagers' frontal lobes with the rest of their brains are sluggish. Teenagers don't have as much of the fatty coating called myelin, or "white matter," that adults have in this area. Think of it as insulation on an electrical wire. Nerves need myelin for nerve signals to flow freely. Spotty or thin myelin leads to inefficient communication between one part of the brain and another.” (Richard Knox) Regardless of the detestable actions that some teens commit, we can attest their decisions to their brains. Their underdeveloped brains lead to poor decision-making and in some cases, horrible outcomes. Although consequences of bad decisions are more easily recognized by adults, this is not the case for juveniles. According to Holloway, “It is beyond debate that the human brain does not reach anything close to maturity until the early to mid-20s. Therefore it stands to reason that an adolescent or prepubescent child cannot understand the nature and the consequences of their actions.” (Philip Holloway) While the atrocity of certain juvenile crimes is undeniable, should crimes that are committed by a teen with an underdeveloped brain be punished for the rest of their lives? Despite this argument, many disagree with the underdevelopment brain theory and claim that this theory does not justify the heartache and severity of juvenile crimes. One such person is Jennifer