States Cut Juvenile Justice Programs to Save Extra Cash

[proud2BlibKansan]

Unemployment is at an all-time high. Fewer people getting paychecks amounts to lower income tax collection. This leaves government programs strapped for cash and forced to make cuts.

In states including Tennessee, South Carolina, Virginia and Kentucky, this means programs designed to rehabilitate young criminals are being slashed from budgets. Programs that provide counseling and individual attention are being axed. Juveniles are being relegated to more traditional correctional facilities. In short, instead of being rehabilitated, more young criminals are merely being punished and then sent back into society.

Which programs are being affected?

South Carolina has shut down five group homes. These homes generally house non-violent criminals and focus on individual attention and counseling. The state is also cutting after-school programs in detention facilities and youth reform programs.

Kentucky is getting rid of a boot-camp style program developed by the national guard. Virginia is shutting down a facility that prepares kids to go home before releasing them from juvenile detention centers. Florida is cutting three Associated Marine Institute programs.

Where are these kids going instead?

With the group homes and community programs gone, teens end up in correctional facilities. Petty thieves end up sharing cells with felons and juveniles with charges for guns and assault.

more . . . http://personalmoneystore.com/moneyblog/2008/12/26/states-cut-juvenile-justice-programs-to-save-extra-cash/

The US has 5% of the world's population and 25% of the world's prisoners. :grr:

[underpants]

1. This is really bad-juveniles will now be lumped back in with career adults

I used to work on funding of these programs. They have been very effective especially separating the juveniles from the adult drug arrests-try to cut their drug careers off before they become a part of the system.

Bad news.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

2. In other words, juveniles are given a free course in criminality

Prisons are a place where impressionable youngsters can learn how to "do it better" when they get outside. Instead of having counselors as role models, they have thieves, muggers, and murderers.

[proud2BlibKansan]

3. I had a friend in college

He sold pot to help pay his tuition and got busted. The judge was advised by a counselor who evaluated my friend that incarceration would allow him to perfect his criminal skills. So the judge gave him a ton of community service and probation. Thirty years later my friend has a masters degree and works as a counselor in a juvenile justice division.