POV # 2
According to New York Times, “Teenagers who are tried as adults and sentenced to life in adult institutions are placed in Level 4 maximum-security prisons that are extremely violent” (Prison Is Too Violent for Young Offenders, 2012). The debate argues that prisons are too violent for young offenders because juveniles adapt to negative behavior and the need to survive is taken over in a harsh and ruthless environment. The issue is that juveniles are taken advantage because they are not mentally and physically as older than most prisoners in maximum security prison. The article states, “Suicide and sexual abuse rates of younger prisoners are higher than those of the physically mature” (Prison Is Too Violent for Young Offenders, 2012). Many juveniles that are later placed in adult prison are physically abused and sexual assault. As a result to this, juveniles live in fear of being victimized or assaulted by mature prisoners and many of them to rely on gangs and weapons for survival. Prison is not suitable place for juveniles. Rehabilitation is the resolution for a safe and conductive environment within young offenders and it will help young prisoners to gain insight and be productive in positive transformation in their behavior.