Shay Guerra 1535 N Dayton Chicago, IL 60642 (312)-643-0991 sguerra@gcehicago.com
29th April 2017 L. Tammy Duckworth 230 S Dearborn St #3900 Chicago, IL 60645
Dear Mrs. Duckworth, As a member of our current and future society, I hope you understand my concern for those around me despite their proximity to my life. I have seen friends and associates alike enter the juvenile justice system only to be dealt with in an unjust manner. The way we treat people, regardless of their verdict, matters. If the goal of the juvenile justice system truly is to reform and re-enter our young, misguided individuals back into society, we are in need of a system that does such a thing. There have been too many horror stories told about these young citizens. Too many times the juvenile delinquents who enter the system are given the short end of the stick, too many times they’re abused and isolated-- too many times do these young individuals decide to take their own lives. Suicide is the leading cause of death for youth in confinement, as the Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention reports. Lots of times in juvenile detention centers, these young adults are unnecessarily isolated, which heightens their risk of suicide. The Juvenile Justice Reform Act has revised a clause to target that specific risk. HR. 1809 is an amendment to the Juvenile Justice Act of 1974, which was a reaction to the “tough on crime” policies instituted in the 60’s. Although this Act was a great step in the right direction, it is not infallible and it is up to us to continue its work. The Juvenile Justice Act of 1974 was supposed to create and sustain a physically conclusive and beneficial system to help juvenile delinquents become a part of society once again. Despite the fact that the rate of juvenile detentions has been decreasing since 1999, males and racial/ethnic minorities are still heavily overrepresented. It has also been proven that juveniles who have been incarcerated are up to 75% more likely to be incarcerated during adulthood. As a result of “get tough on crime” policies, delinquents may be moved to adult prisons. Studies have also found a correlation between these movements and recidivism.
It may be easy for me to see the importance of such a law gaining support because it will affect the world I will soon be a greater part of, as well as my millions of counterparts-- let it be known that I have looked at the other side of this coin. As simple as it may seem to play the “child card” it is important to understand the true capabilities of these two distinct types of people. The reasons as to why a child (an individual under the age of 18) may commit a violent crime have the potential to be rooted in a much less malicious and meticulous state of mind, as opposed to their adult counterparts, on the simple basis of biology. The human frontal lobe is not fully developed until the age of 21, which allows for more irrational and illogical behavior. The behavior of a child deviant may also be rooted in an environmental trauma, of which they were a victim to. It can still be argued that these people of habit deserve to be where they are, or may have wound up in that position regardless of environmental factors-- it is the argument of nature versus nurture. To that point, all I have to say is this: wouldn’t anyone want a second chance? Is redemption a thing we have the power to rip away from a person who still has so much to prove to the world, if not themselves? The answer to that question depends entirely upon you. The Juvenile Justice Reform Act will work towards true redemption and re-entry of juvenile delinquents instead of allowing them to fall victim to the current, rickety system. By supporting the Juvenile Justice Reform Act you are not only supporting those who may need you the most, you are also supporting the basis and backbone of our future and society. If we are truly united, we are only as strong as our weakest point. By putting your faith in these young individuals you are directly working to support our new world, which is quickly approaching. I have faith in my generation-- I have faith despite our temporary setbacks and I will continue to have faith in it and in every generation after it because that is all you can ask from a person. May I please ask the same from you, as you support HR 1809, Senator Duckworth? Sincerely,
Shay Guerra GCE Lab School Class of 2018 E: sguerra@gcechicago.com C: 312-549-0030