Unfortunately, punishment doesn't work. If you send them to a detention center, they associate with other youth who have committed more serious crimes. Kids learn more from their peers than they do from adults. When they are released, they have a whole new bag of tricks to perform for a society that has already rejected them.

I'm more interested in prevention. If a kid is struggling at home or at school, it is important to provide the education, skills and/or training needed to become a productive member of society. As a society, we seem to be more interested in 'putting out the fires' than providing support to those who will eventually end up in the criminal justice system without it.

In other words, you either pay now or you pay later. Funding is crucial! It seems that funding war is more important than providing the funding necessary to reduce criminal behaviour in our youth.

The answer is to fund programs that help youth realize their potential.