Teen incarceration can be a complex subject. On one hand, there are those who believe that it is a deterrent to crime. Teens who know they could serve jail time are less likely to break the law. Those who have been incarcerated, therefore, should be even more likely to avoid future criminal activity because they already know what the ramifications look like and want to avoid jail time.
This is a nice theory, but it doesn’t work. When you look at the statistics, you’ll find that teen incarceration actually increases criminal behavior.
For instance, one study discovered that a person who was incarcerated while they were a juvenile was then four times as likely to be arrested and returned to jail as an adult. Those in their peer group who had not been arrested while they were minors were far less likely to be arrested, even after they were older.
Why does this happen?
There are many reasons why this happens. For one thing, there are concerns about the influence that incarceration can have on an impressionable young person. They will undoubtedly meet others who have also broken the law and may begin to form social groups that are less averse to criminal behavior.
But perhaps the bigger issue is just that it pushes a young person’s life off of a traditional trajectory. Say that someone is incarcerated for three years, starting when they are 16. This means that they’re not going to graduate from high school, they’re not going to go to college and they may be released from jail without any ability to get a job or make a living. Would they then turn to criminal activity to earn money, leading to an arrest as an adult?
If you’re a parent whose teen is facing serious charges, these are all important details to consider. You must know what legal defense options you have.
