Listen

The listening post is a place where we can share hidden voices from the past, present, and future. A topic of concern has been reforming the face the juvenile justice system.

“I went to prison to learn to listen.” – Did you know that the United States has an extremely strict juvenile incarceration sentencing system?

I decided to ask an AI system (CoPilot) the following questions:

Does the United States have one of the strictest incarceration programs for juvenile detention? Are there other countries that place juveniles in solitary confinement? Are there other countries in the world that punish juveniles by sentencing them to prison for life without the possibility of parole?

CoPilot:

Certainly! Let’s delve into each of these questions:

1. Youth Incarceration in the United States:

• The United States has a significant youth incarceration system, but whether it is one of the strictest depends on various factors.
• Alternative-to-Incarceration Programs: Efforts are being made to reduce overreliance on youth incarceration. States like California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Kentucky, Maryland, Mississippi, South Dakota, Texas, and Utah have enacted laws limiting eligibility for incarceration in state facilities¹.
• Effectiveness of Incarceration: Research shows that incarceration is often counterproductive for young people. Removing them from their homes, schools, and communities can hinder their future success and well-being. It also disproportionately affects youth of color¹.
• Alternatives: Effective alternatives to youth incarceration include community-based programs, intensive supervision, and evidence-informed decisions about handling delinquency cases².

2. Juvenile Solitary Confinement Worldwide:

• International Law: International law prohibits the solitary confinement of anyone below 18 years of age. It is considered cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment. The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) emphasizes protection for children, even when they come into conflict with the law³.
• Countries with Juvenile Solitary Confinement: While some countries allow for minor offenders to be given life sentences without parole, the practice of juvenile solitary confinement is not widespread. Former British colonies, including the United States, employ this practice more commonly than others. However, many countries in Latin America, Eastern Europe, and Asia do not have this sentence in their penal code⁴.

3. Life Sentences Without Parole for Juveniles Worldwide:

• United States: The U.S. is the only country in the world that condemns people to spend their lives behind bars for crimes committed before they turned 18. Approximately 2,500 youth offenders serve life sentences without the possibility of parole in U.S. prisons⁴.
• Other Countries: Some other countries, such as Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Belize, Brunei, Cuba, Dominica, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, the Solomon Islands, and Sri Lanka, also allow for life sentences without parole for juveniles⁵.
• International Perspective: The U.S. stands apart in its frequent use of this practice. Most countries do not have the sentence that allows individuals to die in prison⁴.

In summary, the U.S. has a unique approach to youth incarceration and sentencing, and international perspectives vary significantly. Efforts are ongoing to reform these practices and explore alternatives that prioritize rehabilitation and well-being.

Fan-beatz:

Here are some key points about juvenile incarceration and punishment in the United States compared to other countries:

• The US does have one of the highest juvenile incarceration rates in the developed world. However, some developing countries incarcerate youth at even higher rates.
• Many other developed countries emphasize rehabilitation, therapy, and community-based programs over incarceration for juvenile offenders. The US relies more heavily on incarceration and harsh punishments.
• Several countries allow solitary confinement for juveniles as a disciplinary measure, though often for shorter periods than the US. The UN and human rights groups have condemned the practice as harmful, especially for younger teens and children.
• The US is the only country in the world that sentences juveniles to life in prison without parole. After Supreme Court rulings, the sentence is now reserved for rare cases of homicide or felony murder. Most countries maximum juvenile sentence is 10-15 years.
• In the last 15 years, there has been some progress in the US in reducing extreme sentences for youth, based on research on adolescent brain development. But the US still lags behind international norms for rehabilitating and supporting child offenders. Reform advocates argue more change is needed to comply with human rights standards.

In summary, while not uniformly the harshest, the US punishment system for juveniles remains one of the strictest and most skeptical of rehabilitation compared to peer developed nations. Advocates argue it clashes with evidence on effectively correcting youth behavior.

Below are a few interviews that I conducted at maximum security prisons in Colorado: