The Pros And Cons Of Adult Prisons

Adult prisons and jails are not constructed with adolescents in mind, and they do not satisfy the needs of juveniles. Officers of juvenile detention centers are properly trained to deal with the specific needs of teenagers. These centers are equipped with workshops, therapy, family services, education, etc. Dana Liebelson, a Huffington Post reporter, wrote that “Staff in juvenile facilities are more likely to be trained to deal with teens. And after they were released, those who had served in the adult system were 77% more likely to be arrested for a violent felony than those who were sent to juvenile institutions.” (Liebelson) Furthermore, according to the Equal Justice Initiative, adolescence that are in adult prisons face increased risks
of suicide and sexual assault by other inmates.

The brain is not fully developed until the mid-twenties. One’s decision making capability is greatly hindered, causing teens to behave recklessly and violently. In the brain, the prefrontal cortex is most involved with decision making, whereas the ventral striatum is the reward center of the brain and is inclined toward risky behavior. Until one’s early to mid twenties, the fatty layer that speeds up the connection between the prefrontal cortex and ventral striatum is not fully matured, resulting in impulsive, risky decisions with the promise of a reward.

“The Juvenile justice system can still hold young people accountable for their actions” (Mishi Faruqee, a strategist at the American Civil Liberties Union).