Title
[Author Name(s), First M. Last, Omit Titles and Degrees]
[Institutional Affiliation(s)]
The developmental implications of incarceration for adolescents and emerging adults
Americans jails and prisons incarcerate adults and kids along with adults and middle-aged people. This is often deemed as the biggest problem of the American prison system that locks up thousands of American kids as part of the American Juvenile Justice System. Incarceration of kids and youth leave a never-ending impact on the Juvenile brains that does not fade throughout their life. A documentary highlights how American justice system incarcerates kids at a higher rate as compared to the other developed nations ADDIN ZOTERO_ITEM CSL_CITATION {"citationID":"bV62G2Jn","properties":{"formattedCitation":"(The Incarcerated Nation, n.d.)","plainCitation":"(The Incarcerated Nation, n.d.)","noteIndex":0},"citationItems":[{"id":466,"uris":["http://zotero.org/users/local/orkqtrjP/items/JLMK39AQ"],"uri":["http://zotero.org/users/local/orkqtrjP/items/JLMK39AQ"],"itemData":{"id":466,"type":"motion_picture","title":"Prison Kids Juvenile Justice in America Full Documentary","source":"YouTube","dimensions":"3848 seconds","URL":"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NifPxtGi-Ns","author":[{"literal":"The Incarcerated Nation"}],"accessed":{"date-parts":[["2019",6,8]]}}}],"schema":"https://github.com/citation-style-language/schema/raw/master/csl-citation.json"} (The Incarcerated Nation, n.d.). Kids who spend their lives behind the bars get severe impacts of the life, environment, events that not only harms their physical and mental health but they are also left behind in the race of education. Such kids are deprived of family and remain unable to enjoy social relationships.
A study highlights that the imprisonment during the childhood and adult years is associated with worst physical and mental health outcomes. The results of the study relevels that the more the duration of incarceration the worst is the health outcome ADDIN ZOTERO_ITEM CSL_CITATION {"citationID":"WmTLdRG9","properties":{"formattedCitation":"(Barnert et al., 2017)","plainCitation":"(Barnert et al., 2017)","noteIndex":0},"citationItems":[{"id":465,"uris":["http://zotero.org/users/local/orkqtrjP/items/UTX8CZLH"],"uri":["http://zotero.org/users/local/orkqtrjP/items/UTX8CZLH"],"itemData":{"id":465,"type":"article-journal","title":"How does incarcerating young people affect their adult health outcomes?","container-title":"Pediatrics","volume":"139","issue":"2","author":[{"family":"Barnert","given":"Elizabeth S."},{"family":"Dudovitz","given":"Rebecca"},{"family":"Nelson","given":"Bergen B."},{"family":"Coker","given":"Tumaini R."},{"family":"Biely","given":"Christopher"},{"family":"Li","given":"Ning"},{"family":"Chung","given":"Paul J."}],"issued":{"date-parts":[["2017"]]}}}],"schema":"https://github.com/citation-style-language/schema/raw/master/csl-citation.json"} (Barnert et al., 2017). Another study also indicates that the large proportion of youth and adults incarcerated show a variety of mental health issues including depression, suicidal thoughts, self-harm and drug and substance abuse as well. Many factors during imprisonment stimulate behavioral issues among young children in detention such as boredom, bullying, and harassment. The documentary also highlights the story of a girl named Savanah who attempted to end her life and her early release request was also rejected ADDIN ZOTERO_ITEM CSL_CITATION {"citationID":"064lOnbA","properties":{"formattedCitation":"(The Incarcerated Nation, n.d.)","plainCitation":"(The Incarcerated Nation, n.d.)","noteIndex":0},"citationItems":[{"id":466,"uris":["http://zotero.org/users/local/orkqtrjP/items/JLMK39AQ"],"uri":["http://zotero.org/users/local/orkqtrjP/items/JLMK39AQ"],"itemData":{"id":466,"type":"motion_picture","title":"Prison Kids Juvenile Justice in America Full Documentary","source":"YouTube","dimensions":"3848 seconds","URL":"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NifPxtGi-Ns","author":[{"literal":"The Incarcerated Nation"}],"accessed":{"date-parts":[["2019",6,8]]}}}],"schema":"https://github.com/citation-style-language/schema/raw/master/csl-citation.json"} (The Incarcerated Nation, n.d.). The cases of attempted suicides and ideation are higher in prisons. The conditions of isolation, stress and being unable to cope with these situations makes them more vulnerable to suicidal thoughts.
The rate of physical health issues of juvenile offenders is also higher as compared to those who are never incarcerated. This is owing to the poor mental health, and sustaining the traumas faced during confinement. One of the issue faced is an adult functional limitation and no healthy physical health outcome for the kids and adults in later ages. Incarcerated adults and kids are also left behind in education and they are deprived of quality education ADDIN ZOTERO_ITEM CSL_CITATION {"citationID":"O9DZRveF","properties":{"formattedCitation":"(Lambie & Randell, 2013)","plainCitation":"(Lambie & Randell, 2013)","noteIndex":0},"citationItems":[{"id":464,"uris":["http://zotero.org/users/local/orkqtrjP/items/ZAZ53K6U"],"uri":["http://zotero.org/users/local/orkqtrjP/items/ZAZ53K6U"],"itemData":{"id":464,"type":"article-journal","title":"The impact of incarceration on juvenile offenders","container-title":"Clinical Psychology Review","page":"448-459","volume":"33","issue":"3","author":[{"family":"Lambie","given":"Ian"},{"family":"Randell","given":"Isabel"}],"issued":{"date-parts":[["2013"]]}}}],"schema":"https://github.com/citation-style-language/schema/raw/master/csl-citation.json"} (Lambie & Randell, 2013). Studies reveal that the incarcerated youth gets inferior education and fail to take part in the activities essential for their healthy mental growth and development. The correctional programs fail to equip kids and adults with the skills and knowledge that the school going children enjoy, and what is necessary for the confined youth.
Incarceration also impacts youth who is at the developing stage socially. The youth stay away from their family and remain socially unconnected with the people who are significant for them ADDIN ZOTERO_ITEM CSL_CITATION {"citationID":"BAzTPtjB","properties":{"formattedCitation":"(Lambie & Randell, 2013)","plainCitation":"(Lambie & Randell, 2013)","noteIndex":0},"citationItems":[{"id":464,"uris":["http://zotero.org/users/local/orkqtrjP/items/ZAZ53K6U"],"uri":["http://zotero.org/users/local/orkqtrjP/items/ZAZ53K6U"],"itemData":{"id":464,"type":"article-journal","title":"The impact of incarceration on juvenile offenders","container-title":"Clinical Psychology Review","page":"448-459","volume":"33","issue":"3","author":[{"family":"Lambie","given":"Ian"},{"family":"Randell","given":"Isabel"}],"issued":{"date-parts":[["2013"]]}}}],"schema":"https://github.com/citation-style-language/schema/raw/master/csl-citation.json"} (Lambie & Randell, 2013). The documentary shares how adults feel, how they miss spending time with their family, parents and speak of the family time with gloom and disappointment. They began to lose social connections with others and after they are back from prison, they face challenges in the transition to the community. The social stigma, criminal record, and negative self-worth do not let them transition themselves into the community again.
The negative impacts on the children and adults and their increasing ratios in the prisons is an indication of the drawbacks of the American justice system. It also showcases that the education system and support programs fail to ensure the physical and mental health of the adults in cognition. The correction and rehabilitation centers need to make some changes to make the experience for the adults less negative by reforming their education, mental and physical health programs. In order to make the youth recover from the negative mental and physical health, the health professionals can play their role to adopt a healthcare reform in the juvenile justice system to promote physical and mental health programs. Another matter that has to be taken into consideration is the high ratio of African American young kids in prisons that is more troublesome for them ADDIN ZOTERO_ITEM CSL_CITATION {"citationID":"cfCuGGBH","properties":{"formattedCitation":"(The Incarcerated Nation, n.d.)","plainCitation":"(The Incarcerated Nation, n.d.)","noteIndex":0},"citationItems":[{"id":466,"uris":["http://zotero.org/users/local/orkqtrjP/items/JLMK39AQ"],"uri":["http://zotero.org/users/local/orkqtrjP/items/JLMK39AQ"],"itemData":{"id":466,"type":"motion_picture","title":"Prison Kids Juvenile Justice in America Full Documentary","source":"YouTube","dimensions":"3848 seconds","URL":"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NifPxtGi-Ns","author":[{"literal":"The Incarcerated Nation"}],"accessed":{"date-parts":[["2019",6,8]]}}}],"schema":"https://github.com/citation-style-language/schema/raw/master/csl-citation.json"} (The Incarcerated Nation, n.d.).
Unnecessary exposure of young children to prisons is the major cause and elimination of this will eliminate the negative impacts protecting the youth from severe mental and physical health issues. Neither it would deprive them of the necessary right of education not it will abolish their social relationships. Alternatives to incarceration must be considered by the American justice system to save the lives of these young children being exposed to isolation, harassment, and imprisonment at their developmental age. Instead of sending kids and adults to prisons, different community-based programs focused on the use of social and cognitive behavioral approaches are considered beneficial and effective ADDIN ZOTERO_ITEM CSL_CITATION {"citationID":"LKiacOnc","properties":{"formattedCitation":"(Lambie & Randell, 2013)","plainCitation":"(Lambie & Randell, 2013)","noteIndex":0},"citationItems":[{"id":464,"uris":["http://zotero.org/users/local/orkqtrjP/items/ZAZ53K6U"],"uri":["http://zotero.org/users/local/orkqtrjP/items/ZAZ53K6U"],"itemData":{"id":464,"type":"article-journal","title":"The impact of incarceration on juvenile offenders","container-title":"Clinical Psychology Review","page":"448-459","volume":"33","issue":"3","author":[{"family":"Lambie","given":"Ian"},{"family":"Randell","given":"Isabel"}],"issued":{"date-parts":[["2013"]]}}}],"schema":"https://github.com/citation-style-language/schema/raw/master/csl-citation.json"} (Lambie & Randell, 2013). The fundamental concept is to incorporate family and community to provide kids with a comprehensive approach that combines youth justice, health, and other related services.
Incarceration not only brings negative impacts for the young children but also cause high cost in comparison with other methods of changing youth behavior. Diversion and mentoring programs, behavioral interventions, family-focused therapies, aggression replacement training, and multisystemic therapy can also be helpful in this regard ADDIN ZOTERO_ITEM CSL_CITATION {"citationID":"Kp43SFNR","properties":{"formattedCitation":"(Lambie & Randell, 2013)","plainCitation":"(Lambie & Randell, 2013)","noteIndex":0},"citationItems":[{"id":464,"uris":["http://zotero.org/users/local/orkqtrjP/items/ZAZ53K6U"],"uri":["http://zotero.org/users/local/orkqtrjP/items/ZAZ53K6U"],"itemData":{"id":464,"type":"article-journal","title":"The impact of incarceration on juvenile offenders","container-title":"Clinical Psychology Review","page":"448-459","volume":"33","issue":"3","author":[{"family":"Lambie","given":"Ian"},{"family":"Randell","given":"Isabel"}],"issued":{"date-parts":[["2013"]]}}}],"schema":"https://github.com/citation-style-language/schema/raw/master/csl-citation.json"} (Lambie & Randell, 2013). These methods are not only cost-effective but also support positive youth development. School and educational institutes can help young kids take responsibility for their actions. Combined actions of parents, institutes, community health and intervention services, and pediatricians can reduce unnecessary exposure of young children to prisons and hone the education and health facilities eventually reducing the adverse experience of children incarcerates.
References
ADDIN ZOTERO_BIBL {"uncited":[],"omitted":[],"custom":[]} CSL_BIBLIOGRAPHY Barnert, E. S., Dudovitz, R., Nelson, B. B., Coker, T. R., Biely, C., Li, N., & Chung, P. J. (2017). How does incarcerating young people affect their adult health outcomes? Pediatrics, 139(2).
Lambie, I., & Randell, I. (2013). The impact of incarceration on juvenile offenders. Clinical Psychology Review, 33(3), 448–459.
The Incarcerated Nation. (n.d.). Prison Kids Juvenile Justice in America Full Documentary. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NifPxtGi-Ns
