Why are New York children being locked up like hardened criminals?

WARNING: Some images may be disturbing.

New York is one of just two states in the country that treats 16 year-olds as adults in the criminal justice system. Treating children like hardened criminals is exactly the wrong approach: it scars them both physically and emotionally, making them more likely to commit crimes in the future. It's time to treat kids like kids in New York State.

This video was made in partnership with the Correctional Association of New York, the Center for Community Alternatives, and the Osborne Association.

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[justjulie37]

That's what happens when you have "For profit" prison systems.

[vampireprince5006]

I was arrested when i was 14, 2008, and had to go through the justice system, it was horrible and treated like an adult, couldnt go back to the school, went to lousiana, could'nt go to school there, everywhere i went i had problems because of that, i am still working on getting my g.e.d because that was my last resort, i had to move back from montana cause my mom needed my help but its super hard for me to get work and everything right now because of it, ya the justice system helps

[edavismookie25]

Yep.

[408Magenta]

The industrial for-profit incarceration business. It's all out of control.

[brokenonallsides]

And watch Broken On All Sides: Race, Mass Incarceration & New Visions for Criminal Justice in the U.S. (brokenonallsides dot c o m), which is a good counterpart to The New Jim Crow. It's more than about just private prisons, the whole system is broken. And it begins with children, predominantly children of color, being looked at a labeled "criminals."

[varchulik420]

Read "The New Jim Crow" it will explain why these adolescents are treated this way... and it is repulsive!

[1965AkJonny]

It's sad when the system is part of the problem. I'm not saying bad parenting isn't a large part of that as well, along with the environment these kids are brought up in.

[frank doster]

Why, because we are a brutal people, nuf said.

[USuncutMN]

The school to prison pipeline. NOT charming, but VICIOUS!

[projectptube]

it never ceases to amaze me how stupid our societies leaders are. the amount of ridiculous laws and ideologies we have is really depressing. there are just a few people here advocating the right things but they obviously do not have that much power and influence.