Topic > Raising the juvenile justice system of Civitas - 1343

One of the main problems is the age of criminal responsibility which should be raised to at least fourteen. Nowadays, a vicious circle exists: child victims are much more likely to commit indecent and illegal activities, mainly due to the lack of support for victims. Prison and sentencing are not the ideal solution. These young adults are trapped in a cycle of recidivism. Having a job has been found to reduce the chance of reoffending by up to 50%. This might offer a solution. Unfortunately, being taken into custody or sentenced to prison increases the likelihood that youth will perpetuate other illegal activities and crimes and also increases the likelihood of being unemployed in the future. Community sentences are much less tumultuous for the offender's future. “Two thirds of prisoners lose their jobs, one third lose their homes and, above all, 40% lose contact with their families. Each of these factors increases the likelihood of a person reoffending,” Civitas's Youth Crime in England and Wales (2010) cites Prison Break: Tackling Recidivism, Reducing