Adult Versus Juvenile Sanctions: Voices of Incarcerated Youths

Abstract

This article reports findings from face-to-face interviews with youthful offenders inFlorida, about half of whom had been transferred to the adult system and half of whom were retained in the juvenile system. The focus is on the youths'global assessments of the impact of their correctional experiences relevant to subsequent offending. The overall impact of each recalled correctional disposition was rated (ranging from beneficial impact to negative impact). For respondents who had experienced multiple correctional dispositions, comparisons were made about the relative impact of low-end versus deepend juvenile commitments and juvenile versus adult sanctions. Youths believed deep-end juvenile placements were most beneficial. Those programs were viewed as having provided education or life skills. When youths viewed adult sanctions as being beneficial, the benefit was linked to the time and pain of prison confinement. Those youths who attributed positive impact to prison had "skipped" deep-end juvenile placements.We do not hesitate to ask what researchers, judges, prosecutors, law enforcement officers, juvenile advocates, and others involved with young offenders think about the relative value of juvenile and criminal sanctions. However, we rarely ask what those who experience the respective sanctions think. We know little about how different sanctions are viewed by youthful offenders or how they think their behaviors will be affected. In perhaps no other area of human endeavor would we so consistently and so confidently ignore the opinions of those on the receiving end of social action. 431 JODI LANE:

The Correctional Experiences of Youth in Adult and Juvenile Prisons

“…In a more recent study, Lane, Lanza-Kaduce, Frazier, and Bishop (2002) find a more complex distinction between young inmates' experiences in juvenile and adult corrections in Florida. During interviews with young adults in juvenile and adult facilities, Lane et al ask respondents to evaluate whether their sentences were beneficial to them.…”

“…Inmates report that they receive little or no educational or counseling programming in standard adult prisons, though many rate these experiences as beneficial because they believe that the pains of imprisonment will serve as a deterrent for them. In contrast, deep-end juvenile placements offer education and counseling programs sought by the young adults, and they offer these programs within a secure environment that the inmates perceive as conducive to rehabilitation (Lane et al, 2002).…”

Juvenile Offenders and Adult Felony Recidivism: The Impact of Transfer

“…However, qualitative research indicates that transfers believe the adult system is much more difficult to navigate and experience and generally hurts them in the long run, while the juvenile system is often able to help (e.g., by giving life skills such as anger management and education). Transfers also speak about the brutalizing consequences of adult incarceration Lane et al, 2002). The analysis regarding the effect of sanctions has yet to be done and is an appropriate next step for studies that examine the impact of transfer policies.…”

Female Juvenile Offenders' Experience with Revocation

“…In another study, Lane et al (2002) analyzed interviews of incarcerated juvenile offenders in Florida to determine juvenile offenders' thoughts about different levels of juvenile and adult sanctions and the perceived effectiveness of these sanctions as deterrents from future criminal behavior. Participants were 144 male offenders between the ages of 17 and 20 years who were incarcerated in Florida's juvenile and adult correctional facilities as a result of crimes they committed as adolescents.…”

“…Only a few qualitative studies have been conducted to address the issue of recidivism among either male or female juvenile offenders; however, the researchers have focused on the incarceration or treatment experience rather than what occurred once juvenile offenders were back in the community (Abrams, 2006;Lane, Lanza-Kaduce, Frazier, & Bishop, 2002). No known qualitative studies included interviews with juveniles about their experience with revocation after they had recidivated or after their probation had been revoked.…”