Study on Juvenile Justice in Pittsburgh Incorporates Youth Opinion

The juvenile justice system in Allegheny County and across the country is wildly flawed in many opinions due to its high recidivism rate and inability to improve the lives of minority or impoverished. A new study by the Pittsburgh Foundation is aiming to make a difference and improve the juvenile justice system by giving affected youth a voice and platform.

Researchers asked a group of about 50 youth involved in the system, questions about what got them involved in crime in the first place. While the answers were varied, they revolved around circumstance like coming from a bad neighborhood, peer pressure, racism, and suffering sexual abuse. The debate of racism in the United States justice system is nothing new, and it’s no different when it comes to Allegheny County where nearly 70% of youth in the juvenile justice system are black. We cannot determine indefinitely that racism is the culprit, but it's evident race plays a part in the justice system and impoverished communities.

Another important question to ask is if it’s always necessary to enter youth into the system to start with. Of all youth referred to the juvenile justice system in Allegheny County in 2015, 76% of those referred were for nonviolent offenses. Participant interviews suggested rather than simply punishing youth for their actions, creating a more rehabilitative approach could be beneficial.

When asked what they thought could be helpful ways to change the system, participants stated early interventions in schools for at risk students, mental health support for those in the juvenile justice system, and more opportunity for youth to speak directly to judges and official on ways to improve their futures. It appears that according to this study, many youth feel they end up in the juvenile justice system for nonviolent offenses due to societal pressures and life circumstance.

One of the biggest concerns for attorneys who handle juvenile cases is keeping their client’s case in the juvenile court. Once a minor is charged as an adult for a crime, the repercussions drastically increase. Pittsburgh criminal lawyer Gary E. Gerson is an advocate for teens and youth and understands the dire need to keep youth cases in the juvenile court system. Although entering the juvenile justice system can have a serious impact on their life, being labeled a delinquent vs a criminal once charged as an adult is a much more manageable situation. When a child is charged as an adult, their future can be greatly affected leaving the youth feeling hopeless and leading them further into a life of crime.

Philanthropic groups like the Pittsburgh Foundation are making strides to improve the juvenile justice system by incorporating the opinions of at risk youth. By opening up the conversation and looking inside the minds of these young people, hopefully they can make positive changes to the system as a whole and work on preventing juvenile crimes rather than just punishing them.