Submit your final paper following the guidelines below.
Introduction: Begin your introduction with a statement that will capture your readers’ interest, making them want to read the rest of your paper. Consider opening with a compelling story, a fascinating quotation, an interesting question, or a stirring example so that your reader will understand why this topic matters. Follow this by stating the policy you chose and why you chose it (this is one portion where you may give an opinion). Finally, explain to the reader what you will be discussing throughout your paper. Writing tip: When writing, pretend that your reader knows absolutely nothing about your topic. This will help you to be more thorough in writing your entire paper.
Describe the Issue: Provide a full and complete description of the ethical issue you have selected, including an in-depth history of the issue. Provide as much detail of the issue as you can.
Research Evidence: Discuss the research evidence on your chosen issue.
Solutions: Discuss evidence-based possible solutions to your chosen issue.
Implications: Discuss the implications and possible impact that your researched solutions propose.
Implications: Discuss the implications and possible impact that your researched solutions propose.
Conclusion: Synthesize, don’t summarize: Include a brief summary of the paper’s main points, but don’t simply repeat things that were in your paper. Instead, show your reader how the points you made and the support and examples you used fit together. The conclusion needs to balance all that was discussed throughout the paper. You should not introduce new evidence for your argument in the conclusion.
Submission Format
Reference Page: You shall include a reference page at the end of your paper that begins on a separate page and must follow APA formatting. The ONLY forms of sources you are allowed to use are academic books, academic articles from peer-reviewed journals (e.g. Criminology, Criminology and Public Policy, Justice Quarterly, Police Quarterly, etc.), “.gov” websites such as fbi.gov, cdc.gov, etc. You may also use articles from major/reputable newspapers and government reports.
All non-academic sources are strictly prohibited. You are specifically restricted from using Wikipedia or similar encyclopedic sources (e.g. about.com, ask.com, yahoo.com, etc.). Any “.com” site as well as “.edu” sites; while .edu may have information that is of value, their information as sources do not belong in an academic paper.
Class notes are also not appropriate to use as a source.
Any use of non-academic sources such as those listed above will result in an automatic zero on the assignment.
Assignment Formatting Instructions
• Double-spaced
• 12pt. Times New Roman font only
• 1″ margins on all sides
• Name, date, course in the top right corner
• A centered title
• All answers must be in complete sentences. The completed assignment should be at least three pages and no longer than four.
• Proofread your work as spelling, grammar, punctuation, and capitalization count.
BELOW IS A COMPLETED OUTLINE THAT I WOULD LIKE TO FOLLOW FOR THE ENTIRE ESSAY
Introduction
Studies suggest that children incarcerated in adult prisons experience early mortality, likely due to decreased physical and psychological health.
In the US there is no constitutional or national law that prohibits states from sentencing minors to an adult facility or to life without parole. I selected this topic because I find this to be a significant flaw in the criminal justice system. Children need to be protected and placing them in an adult prison is abuse gross negligence.
Oftentimes courts will sentence a juvenile to an adult prison if they find it necessary. Juveniles that are charged with serious offenses, repeat offenders, or they are 16-17 years of age or older. They are likely to be considered an adult a placed in an adult prison to fulfill the length of their sentence.
Describe the Issue
The topic encompasses issues of psychological, physical, and sexual abuse within the correctional system. It is very difficult provide safety for children in adult prisons
There is a long history of youths in adult prisons that go back centuries. A few years ago, Michigan Supreme Court supported the prosecution of Michigan state for sexual assault charges. Two men came forward regarding the sexual abuse they endured in adult prisons since age 14. The men described that correctional officers allowed men to enter their cell and rape them. The abuse also led to a correctional officer participating in the abuse. When the assault was brought to surface the facility placed the minors in solitary confinement for extended periods to protect them from the inmates. Although the case is still ongoing trial it represents a repeated cycle of abuse that occurs when children are placed in adult prisons.
Research Evidence
Children who have endured this environment have the highest suicide rates amongst all inmates. “In 2005 every state had a transfer statue” that authorizes the state to prosecute juveniles in adult criminal court for a criminal act (Neelum, 2007). Laws are what makes this problem possible and the lack of protection with the prison simply exacerbates the problem. In the same year victims of inmate-on-inmate sexual violence were youth under the age of 18 years old (Hein, 2021) As if the abuse was not already harmful enough the prison will attempt to solve the problem by placing the minor in maximum security for their own protection (Chung, 2021). Confinement cells are intended to inflict a stricter punishment not house abuse victims. This chosen solution only increases the psychological each minor experiences.
Implications
Discussing the criminal justice system involvement in child abuse is controversial. However, it is also the reason why this topic deserves such wide spread attention. Especially when this cycle has an increased chance ending with suicide or recidivism. The suicide statistics highlight the immediate need for change.
The research leads to solution that involves the Juvenile Justice & Delinquent Prevention Acts. An act that will fight and prohibit the placement in juvenile.
Solutions
A nationwide study regarding juveniles in adult corrections was funded by the Bureau of Justice Assistance in 1997. This study produced solutions that will improve the wellbeing of the minority group while incarcerated. Proper training services for correctional officers, specialized youth services that cater to the developmental needs of the minor, and strict sex offender identification that houses certain inmates away for minor offenders.
Conclusion
Minors placed in adult prisons to fulfill their sentence experience a heightened amount of abuse while incarcerated. The psychological and physical abuse can become so severe that youths will likely endure early morality. The court system needs to begin exploring alternative placement with stricter conditions opposed to choosing the easier route which is to place troubled kids in adult prisons for long term sentences. Even if the Court deems an adult prison placement absolutely necessary there needs to be stricter policies and practices that cater to protecting this easily targeted group.
Reference
1. H. CHUNG, K. (2021, March 8). Kids behind Bars: The Legality of Incarcerating Juveniles in Adult Jails. Hein Online. https://heinonline.org/HOL/LandingPage?handle=hein.journals%2Fsufflr40&div=12&id=&page=
2. Arya, Neelum, Jailing Juveniles: The Dangers of Incarcerating Youth in Adult Jails in America (November 1, 2007). A Campaign for Youth Justice Report, November 2007, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1697706
3. They’re Just Kids: Does Incarcerating Juveniles with Adults Violate the Eighth Amendment. Hein Online. (2021, March 8). https://heinonline.org/HOL/LandingPage?handle=hein.journals%2Fsufflr40&div=12&id=&page=
4. Juveniles in adult prisons and jails: A national assessment. (n.d.-a). https://www.ojp.gov/pdffiles1/bja/182503.pdf
5. Barnert, E. S., Abrams, L. S., Tesema, L., Dudovitz, R., Nelson, B. B., Coker, T., Bath, E., Biely, C., Li, N., & Chung, P. J. (2018). Child incarceration and long-term adult health outcomes: a longitudinal study. International journal of prisoner health, 14(1), 26–33. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJPH-09-2016-0052
6. Silver, I. A., Semenza, D. C., & Nedelec, J. L. (2023). Incarceration of Youths in an Adult Correctional Facility and Risk of Premature Death. JAMA network open, 6(7), e2321805. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2023.21805
