Summary Of Fix D. C. Marshall's Juvenile Justice System

Course of Discipline The needs of the youngest members within a populace are often at the forefront of the social consciousness. Those who are young grow to be leaders and it is the responsibility of the to provide community opportunities for growth in the more vulnerable years of an individual's life. However, due to the unpredictable nature of life, things can go wrong. To counteract this unpredictability, certain services - such as juvenile detention centers - have been created. Despite the best intentions of a community there is always the possibility that an institution meant to provide aid can be corrupted. On June 24th, Erica L. Marshall published the article, Fix D.C.’s Juvenile Justice System to Reduce Adult Crime, for the Washington
After the logical introduction and the ethical appeal found in the beginning of the second paragraph there is an inkling of pathos at the end of the second paragraph that are continued throughout the entire article. The transition from simply logos and ethos to pathos is seen with the change in word choice. The switch from referencing to them as juveniles - which is more clinical, legal, and exact - to referring to them as children is a reminder to the reader that they are more than just court cases, they are people worthy of redemption. This change in word choice is taken even farther when they are called kids in the same sentence that mentions that the justice system should be “focused on restorative justice and rehabilitation”(2). The combination of calling them kids and mentioning the need for rehabilitation makes the reader feel sympathy but also makes the reader feel guilty because the system established to provide for the people has
While this is an instance where some readers may start to feel guilty for their lack of action, Marshall provides an opportunity for change as well as a way to absolve the guilt they may feel. Although the author does not outright say the reader can help by providing funding for rehabilitation programs, it is implied throughout the entire third paragraph. The mention of the Youth Court nonprofit organization and the fact that it closed down due to a lack of funding presents a situation where the reader could potentially make a difference. The option to help fund similar programs without outrightly saying so allows the reader to reach a conclusion that is mutually beneficial. The following paragraph continues to use a combination of logos, ethos, and pathos which is most prevalent when the author writes about the decreased recidivism rates. With the inclusion of the fact that “Youth Court had an 11 percent recidivism rate — well below the national average of 20 to 29 percent,”(1) the author uses all three rhetorical devices. The logical argument is that a decrease in recidivism indicates a decrease in overall crime, the ethical argument is that the moral obligation to provide rehabilitation is being accomplished but the strongest argument is the emotional one. These kids, not juveniles since this article has made a distinction, are obviously improving because instead of just being sentenced they are being cared