How Juvenile Incarceration Affects Youth
Know the impacts of Juvenile Incarceration
If your child is facing juvenile charges in Wisconsin, you are likely worried about the present moment. What happens if he or she is incarcerated? Will your child be safe? While these are important concerns, you need to think about that child’s future too. Studies show many harmful effects that juvenile incarceration creates as children grow. Avoiding time locked up can be critical to your child’s development and future.
Health Impacts
Mental and physical health issues can arise after very little time incarcerated. According to a study by the journal Pediatrics, “How Does Incarcerating Young People Affect Their Adult Health Outcomes,” even one month of incarceration for juveniles can lead to symptoms of depression in the adult years. Greater periods of incarceration lead to more mental and physical health problems, to the point of even having basic functional problems as adults.
Future Development
Health is not the only area that incarceration affects. According to a 2015 study by The Quarterly Journal of Economics, juveniles who spend even one to two months incarcerated are less likely than their peers to ever return to school after they are released. If they do return, they are less likely to graduate and more likely to be placed in special education classes. When they become adults, they are also far more likely than their peers to be incarcerated again.
What This Means for You
Placing kids in juvenile detention does more than just teach them a lesson about responsibility or right and wrong. It impacts their health and their future prospects in ways from which they may never recover. While this gives reason to think about juvenile justice reform, you have a more immediate need: protecting your child.
At Eisenberg Law Offices, we have experienced criminal defense attorneys who will help look out for you and your child. We will meet with you and discuss your case, then help plan the defense approach that is best for your family. To learn more, contact us today online or at 608-256-8356.