Bad Ideas About Juvenile Crime That Won’t Go Away
The article discusses the controversy over trying juveniles as adults, highlighted by a 2012 Indiana burglary case that led to lengthy prison sentences for teens. It notes recent legislative efforts in several states to increase adult prosecution of minors despite research showing harsher penalties are often ineffective. The piece underscores that juvenile crime rates have fallen overall, yet periodic spikes prompt calls for tougher sentencing rather than rehabilitative approaches.
- ▪In 2012, four teens involved in a burglary in Indiana were tried as adults and sentenced to at least 50 years in prison, prompting legal challenges over the harshness of the punishment.
- ▪The Indiana Supreme Court later reduced their convictions to simple burglary, citing concerns about adolescent brain development and disproportionate sentencing.
- ▪Recent bills in Missouri, the District of Columbia, and Tennessee aim to expand the circumstances under which juveniles can be tried as adults, even for nonviolent offenses.
- ▪Despite a 75 percent decline in juvenile crime since 1995, periodic increases in overall crime have spurred lawmakers to favor punitive measures over rehabilitation, despite studies showing higher rearrest rates for incarcerated youths.
Opening excerpt (first ~120 words) tap to expand
IdeasBad Ideas About Juvenile Crime That Won’t Go AwayHarsher penalties for teen offenders denies them the chance to become better adults.By Elizabeth BruenigIllustration by The Atlantic. Sources: Geraint Rowland / Getty; Anastasiia Sientova / Getty.June 10, 2026, 2 PM ET ShareSave On the morning of October 3, 2012, a trio of unarmed 16- and 17-year-old boys in Elkhart, Indiana, banded together to commit a burglary in their neighborhood. To avoid a confrontation, they planned to hit a vacant home. After some dogs scared them off their first target, the teens called two more friends, who were 18 and 21, to help them break into another neighbor’s house, which seemed empty.
…
Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at The Atlantic.
Discussion
0 commentsMore from The Atlantic
