Is Resorting Our Youth - 1260 Words

Henry Maldonado 12/8/15 Criminology 262L Professor Zaykowski Resorting Our Youth Everyone is susceptible to crime, there is not one person living who has not committed a crime whether it is intentionally or not. From the very minor crimes like drinking under age; to much more serious crimes like murder people are guilty of it. Age plays a major role in all of this, the older you are the less likely you are to commit a crime; but the younger you are; say mid teens to young adulthood, the more likely it is that one is to commit a crime. But for those who get into the life of crime at an earlier age the easier it is to help save them. At a younger age young adults commit less serious crimes, such as drinking under age, trespassing, theft,†¦show more content†¦Restorative justice is a way to view crime in a positive way, viewing it as a way to help those who offend and those who are affected. By punishing an offender immediately no matter the crime committed they are stigmatized instantly by society, their peers, family and possibly even themselves. The negative stigmatization slowly but surely removes them from society as they are seen as people who do not belong and people who break the rules. Restorative justice helps because they are not stigmatized and punished immediately and by not doing so, and instead helping and guiding them, on what will happen, how to re enter society and having the people who were affected by their actions express their experience and feelings the offender will see the error of his or her ways. Restorative justice goes a lot further than just punishing the offender, according to the article, â€Å"Restorative Discipline: From Getting Even to Getting Well†, Judy Hostetler Mullet (2014) states, â€Å"By focusing on the harm done to relationships, restorative justice practitioners view discipline as an opportunity to understand the rational nature of misbehavior, mend relationships and make restitution† (p.157). Other practices immediately punish an offender. Especially in sc hool if a student acts out in class or does something they are not suppose to do what happens? They are immediately sent to the principles office and either