Juveniles in Corrections: Is Age Really Just a Number?
A common misconception is that correctional officers only work in jails and prisons with many overlook that COs also work in a variety of other environments, including juvenile detention centers, rehabilitation centers, and treatment facilities. While all these institutions hold individuals in custody, they’re separate entities.
Each type of facility has its own policies, programs, and operational approaches tailored to its specific mission and the needs of its residents. So, what determines who gets to serve their time in what type of facility? Typically, it all boils down to three main components:
The severity of the crime
Age of the offender
Location of the crime
This blog explains how the combination of these three factors determines the type of facility a juvenile offender is placed in, further determining how operations are managed and the type of treatment they will receive.
But before we dive deeper, let’s make one thing abundantly clear. While the day-to-day tasks of a correctional officer may differ depending on the type of facility, the ultimate responsibility of any correctional staff member never changes. Regardless of whether the offenders are senior citizens, adults, or minors, all correctional officers share one ultimate responsibility: upholding the care, custody, and control of those in their facility.
Is Age Just a Number?
The phrase "Age is just a number" highlights how context is key. For instance, a young employee outshining more experienced colleagues might prove that age is irrelevant in career advancement. However, this saying falls short when a 15-year-old tries to buy a drink at a bar—here, age clearly matters. So, the truth of "Age is just a number" depends entirely on the situation.
Now, when it comes to the criminal justice system, age certainly matters. An offender’s age partnered with the crime committed and the state the crime was located in determines if, how, and where an offender will be doing their time. Because the criminal justice system treats adults differently due to their age, adult offenders are always tried in the adult criminal court and if convicted, are put into the custody of correctional officers. Juvenile offenders, on the contrary, are often but not always tried in the juvenile court and if found guilty, are put into the custody of either juvenile correctional officers or probation officers.
Adult vs. Juvenile Courts
The adult criminal court is often perceived as “harsher” than the juvenile court, especially regarding sentencing and post-release expectations. Many jurors and judges believe that adult offenders possess a clearer understanding of the consequences of their actions and are generally more set in their ways. And because adult offenders are more likely to commit serious and violent crimes, they are viewed as posing a greater security risk, necessitating closer monitoring and supervision. While this perspective does not apply to all adult offenders, it significantly influences jury considerations.
Additionally, when adults are processed through the criminal justice system, they typically have a bail hearing. This means the judge can order pretrial release with or without conditions that could include bail. No matter the decision, the criminal records of adult offenders are public and can follow them after being convicted, which may affect their ability to find employment or housing. Due to these repercussions that adults face while tried in adult criminal court, the juvenile court system is handled differently.
Juvenile offenders are often viewed through a rehabilitative lens. In some U.S. states, jurors and judges have traditionally believed that young people are still developing their understanding of right and wrong, and possess the potential for growth and positive change. Since minors’ brains are still maturing—especially the frontal lobes, which govern impulse control—juveniles are seen as more likely to take responsibility for their actions and to amend their behavior. Their openness to guidance and support often makes juveniles less of a security risk, allowing for placement in rehabilitation centers rather than adult detention facilities.
Depending on state laws, juvenile offenders may not undergo a bail hearing; instead, they typically attend a “disposition hearing.” Here, a judge may decide to release the juvenile to their legal guardians or place them in a juvenile detention center. Moreover, those who return to their guardians or are placed in rehabilitation facilities usually have their records sealed to protect their privacy. If they comply with the court's terms, these records may be expunged when they reach adulthood, allowing for a fresh start.
Adult vs. Juvenile Facilities
However, there are some states where juvenile offenders don’t get off the hook as easily. Remember that aside from the juvenile’s age, the crime committed and the state in which it was located also play major roles in how they’re tried. Some state statutes require juveniles that are charged with a felony to be housed at an adult facility. In this scenario, juveniles are separated from the other adult offenders by sight and sound, receive more frequent checks, and have fewer use-of-force options.
Other state statutes, such as California’s statute, require juvenile offenders to be held in juvenile facilities until they are between the ages of 18-21 (depending on the judge). From there, they will be transported to an adult facility to serve the rest of their sentence. Based on the two avenues that juveniles can travel depending on the state statute, there is clearly one that seems more favorable from the juvenile offender’s perspective, right? Most juvenile offenders would rather be placed back with their legal guardians or in a juvenile facility that focuses on rehabilitation instead of an adult facility.
Adult correctional facilities are typically framed as the “real deal” place to serve a sentence. And when compared to a juvenile facility that centers its attention on treatment, this assumption is accurate as the facility operations between an adult facility and a juvenile rehabilitation facility are vastly different. For example, most juvenile facilities have policies implemented that are similar to the type of lifestyle that civilian minors have. Some of these policies include receiving a milk carton with their meals, mandatory school time, increased recreation hours, and a snack at night.
Additionally, the offenders spend most of their day either in class or in a dayroom and only go to their cells for “cool-down” periods or during lockdown (sleep) hours. Although these policies may seemingly be mundane, they make the time that the juveniles are spending in custody as similar to “normal societal life” as possible. This is why the location of where a juvenile is sentenced is such a sensitive subject - the life of the juvenile will most likely forever be changed depending on where they are sentenced.
Aside from the policies implemented, juvenile facilities generally have more mental health support in their daily operations than adult facilities. Most juvenile educational programs use “restorative justice” in their classrooms and push for peer counseling. The officers also have a massive role to play as they are responsible for behavior modeling during their shifts. Juveniles spend the majority of their day around the juvenile correctional officers or probation officers and over time they tend to conform to their actions.
Contrary to popular belief, correctional officers play a bigger role than just doing their rounds. Hence, it’s crucial for officers to walk the walk and talk the talk to show the juveniles what it’s like to follow the rules and complete their work. And with all these elements combined, juveniles are set up for success and are given the tools to keep them from returning upon release, which is the ultimate goal of juvenile rehabilitation.
Perspective Matters
When it comes to the question, “Is age really just a number?” regarding the criminal court system, the answer, unfortunately, sits in muddy waters. On one hand, the answer is “Yes, age is just a number” because the judge’s decision doesn’t all depend on the age of the offender. Aside from age itself, two strong components (the crime committed and the state it was located in) determine the type of facility a juvenile offender is placed in, further determining how their future will pan out.
On the other hand, the answer is “No, age isn’t just a number” because the criminal justice system treats offenders differently based on age. This is the ultimate reason why adult offenders are tried in the adult criminal court while juveniles are often tried in the juvenile court. It’s very similar to answering the question, “Is your glass half empty or half full?” There are two routes to answer the question, “Is age really just a number?” and it conclusively depends on the perspective you choose to look from.