Unemployment is at an all-time high. Fewer people getting paychecks amounts to lower income tax collection. This leaves government programs strapped for cash and forced to make cuts.
In states including Tennessee, South Carolina, Virginia and Kentucky, this means programs designed to rehabilitate young criminals are being slashed from budgets. Programs that provide counseling and individual attention are being axed. Juveniles are being relegated to more traditional correctional facilities. In short, instead of being rehabilitated, more young criminals are merely being punished and then sent back into society.
Which programs are being affected?
South Carolina has shut down five group homes. These homes generally house non-violent criminals and focus on individual attention and counseling. The state is also cutting after-school programs in detention facilities and youth reform programs.
Kentucky is getting rid of a boot-camp style program developed by the national guard. Virginia is shutting down a facility that prepares kids to go home before releasing them from juvenile detention centers. Florida is cutting three Associated Marine Institute programs.
Where are these kids going instead?
With the group homes and community programs gone, teens end up in correctional facilities. Petty thieves end up sharing cells with felons and juveniles with charges for guns and assault.
more . . .
http://personalmoneystore.com/moneyblog/2008/12/26/states-cut-juvenile-justice-programs-to-save-extra-cash/The US has 5% of the world's population and 25% of the world's prisoners. :grr: