Pittsburgh Business Daily

What are some problems with our juvenile justice system?

I have to write a paper about reforming our juvenile justice system. Can anyone give me some stats or info about what kind of things need to be changed?

Public Comments

1. I was sent to a Jr prison because I had no family to help me from about age 11 on. My worse crime was I smoked pot. I have never understood how this helped me as I have always been ashamed and harmed by it, always feeling less than everyone else. I have a Rio Contiguo H.S.Diploma from Juvenile Hall, makes me real proud to show it to employers. I am in my 50's now and still feel the scars of it everyday. I find myself afraid inside of things others don't, just I had to learn to deal with it. I never learnt alot of things or did things as a teenager like others, and so as an adult try to be a teen instead of an adult as I should. Can't help it, it is in that fear factor. Nothing worse than being a kid alone, and in lock up with , well it was hard.
2. For one they are turning Juveniles into Full Fledge Criminals. Prisons Don't Help or Change People, They Become Worse.