The End of Juvenile Prison, talks about how over the past few decades that most states have expanded juvenile detention facilities so that they are more like adult prisons. Bernstein argues that it is fundamentally wrong to treat kids like adult offenders because of the conditions that have continued through investigation in different states. She does not believe that the current system is fair for juveniles compared to adults and the experiences ruin the juvenile’s lives by traumatizing them at a young age in jail. The system does not do a good job of differentiating children from adults nor giving them the essentials they need to not land back in the system, positive adult role models and good relationships. Nell Bernstein believes that the system is failing to provide the necessities to juveniles.
Within the juvenile prison system, several nonviolent youths are locked up with the abuse and trauma. Incarceration is ineffective and can cause much more harm than good. Healthy relationships are the best rehabilitation for youth and children thrive better with loving adults. The media portrays most young juvenile offenders as those of color and society’s perceptions are wrong. With the media spreading, it also spreads fear and racism throughout the justice system giving a skewed view of juveniles. When people think of juveniles in facilities, most think that they are dangerous, but this is inaccurate. Most juveniles locked up are actually nonviolent offenders and only 11 percent are serious offenders.
Bernstein also discusses that the two biggest factors for throwing juveniles into the justice system are race and class. These two factors makeup statistics that skew data within the system. Through the many personal stories in the book there are also other factors that may worsen while in a juvenile facility such as; childhood trauma, loss and abandonment. The facilities that are supposed to be keeping juveniles out of these harsh prisons are actually just as harsh as adult prisons. She goes on to explain how they are designed to be feared by juveniles. While in these facilities, juveniles fear their cell mates and the guards. The quality of the food is not great, and they do not get much food at meals either. Within the cells, they are small and cramped. Bernstein discusses how violence and abuse takes place not only by the other inmates but by the guards as well. After speaking to the juveniles locked up, she explains that most felt humiliated and abused by the guards.
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The juvenile prison systems are not working. The statistics show that a majority of the juveniles released, usually become repeat offenders and are back within two to three years. The skills learned while they are in the facility are not proving to be helpful outside of prison. It proves hard for juveniles with a record to find a job to work legally when they get out and even if they do earn education within the prison system it is deemed more of a joke. It is a sad hamster wheel for those that get out of prison. Unemployment leads to unemployment and then unemployment leads to incarceration due to the fact that these juveniles need to eat and pay bills and they need to do this whether it be legal or illegally. This then leads into if they don’t have jobs and are unable to pay bills then they will not be able to find housing. As Bernstein shows, the system is meant to have juveniles fail.
Race and minorities are treated unfairly, and Bernstein mentions how most of the youth locked up are black and brown races. On top being locked up, they are locked up for much longer than white youth sometimes up to triple the length. This goes back to social class and minorities and how they are treated differently in society. White kids are just as likely if not more at committing criminal acts, yet Hispanic and African American children are more likely to be locked up. This book brings up topics of sexual harassment, racism and inhumane living environments. The way juveniles are treated from what Bernstein witnessed is horrible. No child should live as if they were in a dungeon or treated like an animal. The physical and mental abuse some children get while locked up can have horrible psychological issues far beyond being locked up. As mentioned above, there is no way currently to get children on the right track if they land in a detention facility.
These facilities have no current therapy programs, intervention or alternatives for rehabilitation. It is important for children to have meaningful relationships as well as caring, trusting adults to look up to. Even when they do get rehabilitation their past history hinders their future for jobs and housing. There needs to be more education and learning opportunities for the same amount of time they would be in school, learning the same things. The cost to lock up a child is expensive as well. If this money were spent on therapy programs or for beneficial education, it would cost the state much less and gain a far better result. Children should not be locked up and treated the way they are for certain offenses. This is another issue that needs work within the system. Petty offenses should be worked on outside prisons and children should be given a way for a second chance. Everyone makes mistakes, especially children.
Nell Bernstein has many great ideas of how the system can be changed. She makes it clear that we need to stop children from being incarcerated and rehabilitate from the outside. She gives a personal perspective on what is wrong with the system and what needs to be fixed and what is working. I feel this book is a great tool to help gain perspectives on both ends. It is great insight to what the juvenile system is really like with first-hand knowledge from inside. The children within the walls of prisons and detention facilities are unable to speak for themselves unless advocates like Bernstein go in and do the investigation to make the public aware. This knowledge is important to anyone in the field or going into the field. Students in the Sociology and Criminal Justice majors could definitely learn more by reading this book to become better advocates for injustice within the juvenile detention systems as well as studying human behavior and the criminal aspect of how both works together to form a better system. A system that can continue to grow and evolve by future students in the field.
