It also acts as a deterrent."
So the longer you lock up a child the more of a deterrent it is ?
Nonsense
It has been proven beyind any doubt that prison is not a deterrent beyond the period of imprisonment
NATIONAL INSTITUTE of JUSTICE
Prison life not only remove liberty but it degrades
If the REHABILITATION SCHEMES are inadequate, a prisoner is more likely to come out of prison resentful rather than reformed - they reoffend - many schemes have been exposed as being degrading rather than reforming
God only knows what long term damage they do to adolescents
Jim Carroll