Juveniles in Corrections: Is Age Really Just a Number?

A common misbelief is that correctional officers only work inside jails and prisons. People often forget that correctional staff also work in other environments such as juvenile detention centers, as well as rehabilitation and treatment centers. Although each type of these facilities hold individuals in custody, they are vastly separate entities. Consider a juvenile detention center that focuses solely on recovery, for example. The operations inside this facility will be different from those inside a maximum security prison, right? Undoubtedly. Different types of facilities mean different policies and procedures, different standards, different programs, different everything. 

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 committed, the age of the offender, and the state the crime was located. 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 if 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. 

We’ve all heard the phrase, “Age is just a number.” This is a prime example of why context really does matter because this phrase can be true or false depending on the context. For example, the phrase can be true for a young man who is an up-and-coming employee and is surpassing the quality of work of his older coworkers. In this case, age would be considered “just a number” because even though he is younger than his experienced coworkers, he is making strides in his career. On the other hand, the phrase can’t be true in the scenario of a 15-year-old trying to buy a drink at a bar. In this case, age definitely matters. Thus, the phrase, “Age is just a number” really depends on the context. Now, when it comes to the criminal justice system, age certainly matters. An offender’s age along with the crime committed and the state the crime was located in determines if and how an offender will be doing their time. Because the criminal justice system treats adults differently based on age, this is why adult offenders are *always* tried in the adult criminal court and if convicted, are put into the custody of correctional officers. While 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 traditionally known to be “harsher” than the juvenile court in terms of sentencing and what to expect post-release. Many jurors and judges believe that adult offenders have a greater understanding of the consequences of their actions and are generally more set in their ways. Since adult offenders tend to commit more serious and violent crimes (and are less likely to listen and follow instructions), they are more likely to become a security risk that requires more monitoring and supervision. (Note that this is not always the case for adult offenders, but it is unfortunately the reputation most adults have and it's heavily considered by the jury.) 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 potentially 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 the repercussions that adults face while tried in the adult criminal court, the juvenile court system is handled differently. Juvenile offenders are more often seen through the lens of rehabilitation. In some U.S. states, jurors and judges have traditionally believed that juveniles are still in the process of developing their sense of right and wrong and have the potential for change and improvement. Given that minors’ brains haven’t fully developed (the frontal lobes, which are responsible for impulse control, are the last piece of the brain to mature) and are still building a moral compass, juveniles are believed to be more likely to take responsibility for their actions and make positive changes in their behavior. Being more likely to be compliant and open to guidance and support can make juveniles less of a security risk and allows them the opportunity to be placed in a juvenile rehabilitation center rather than an adult detention facility. Depending on specific state statutes where the crime was committed, juvenile offenders may not have a bail hearing and may instead go through a hearing called a “disposition hearing” where the judge may decide to release the juvenile offender to their legal guardians or place them in a juvenile detention center. Furthermore, those who are placed back with their legal guardians or juvenile detention centers typically have their records sealed to protect their privacy and are expunged when the juvenile reaches adulthood, provided they comply with the terms set forth by the court. 

However, there are some states where juvenile offenders don’t get off the hook as easily. Remember that aside from the age of the juvenile, the crime committed and the state in which it was located also play major roles in how the juvenile is 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. Hence, it’s crucial for officers to walk the walk and talk the talk in order to show the juveniles what it’s like to follow the rules and complete their work. Therefore, contrary to popular belief, correctional officers play a bigger role than just doing their rounds. 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?” in terms of 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.