| Juvenile detention centers, commonly shortened to | | | | These chances increase even more depending on the |
| "juvy," have long been seen as a method of legal | | | | level of involvement. For troubled youth who are put |
| punishment for youth offenders, much like jail for | | | | on probation, the kids are fourteen times more likely |
| adults. However, recent studies have found that | | | | to commit crimes as adults than kids who do not get |
| youth prisons, rather than teaching kids the | | | | involved in juvenile corrections and probation. Lastly, |
| differences between wrong and right, can actually | | | | and even more frightening, the Montreal study found |
| make a teen more likely to commit crimes as an | | | | that youth who are sent to juvenile detention |
| adult. | | | | centers are a staggering 37 times more likely to be |
| A 20-year study in Montreal followed youth | | | | involved in criminal activity as adults. |
| offenders age 10-17 through various levels of the | | | | Psychologists believe that contact with other troubled |
| juvenile legal system. Psychologists analyzed the kids' | | | | youth makes a teen more likely to commit future |
| interactions with each other, and tracked their crime | | | | crimes because of the need to "impress" the other |
| rates through adulthood. Overall, teens involved with | | | | youth offenders. This often includes worse and |
| any part of the youth offender system were more | | | | worse legal infractions. |
| likely to commit crimes in adulthood. | | | | Therefore, it is important for parents to protect their |
| First, community service is a punishment allotted to | | | | children from juvenile detention centers as much as |
| many different crimes, such as driving while drunk or | | | | possible. Things like private counseling can get your |
| minor in possession. You may think that community | | | | youth a chance to figure out any problems while |
| punishment is a wonderful way to benefit the | | | | avoiding contact with other offenders. For legal help |
| community as well as teach youth about | | | | in responding to juvenile offenses, please contact a |
| responsibility. However, even youth with this small | | | | Dallas youth offender lawyer from the Lassiter Law |
| contact with juvenile corrections were twice as likely | | | | Offices today. |
| to be arrested as adults. | | | | |