If not, they'll never experience a real rehabilitation, nor moral development, which is what they need most. Based on information compiled by The Office of Juvenile Justice Programs in October of 1997, it was determined that there were 125,805 young persons assigned to 1,121 public and 2,310 private residential facilities. These numbers encompass both secured and non secured facilities. Two percent had been charged or adjudicated with homicide or murder. Nathaniel Abraham is now resident among this crowd.
Some sociologists feel that young people learn more from their peers than adults.
We'll certainly have the opportunity to find out how good Michigan's youth detention centers are in another 8 years when Nate is 21 and released, free and clear. But rehabilitation is not the only purpose of punishment. Given the fact that the crime was murder, despite his young age, some prison time is required to achieve a measure of justice. People do change when they get older, and we all hope this happens with Nathaniel. All Rights Reserved.