In the article "Rethinking Juvenile Justice" by John Schwartz in ("Upfront Magazine" issued 12/9/13), he discusses the debate on children going to juvenile hall or going to prison. He discusses both sides of the issue and why it is being brought to our attention. The author does a good job at explaining why this is an important issue.
One way he explains why this is an important subject is in his introduction. He talks about a 17 year old boy killed himself when he was sent to county jail instead of juvenile hall. The author writes "His death was one of two suicides by young people in Colorado jails that helped spur a significant change in states laws last year..." This is a good example because he backs up one side of this issue by putting facts and evidence for why people should pay more attention to the issue.
Another way he explains why this is an important issue is by adding quotes from people who know about this subject. One quote is from a psychology professor, and he says "'Ninety percent of teen offenders do not become adult criminals.'" This is a good example because he is getting professional opinions on the subject instead of just people who have been effected by it and his own opinion.
After reading this article I have come to understand that children shouldn't go to prison, but to juvenile hall. There is a quote in the article that has made me think this way from Martha Levick who works in the Juvenile Hall Center in Philadelphia; "'Now we ensure that kids are protected, we have to recognize that they are actually different from adults.'" Although I don't know much about this subject, this article has made me more interested in Law and I might look more into this subject.
