Youth Involvement in the Justice System

Today, more than 70 million young people live in the United States, and that number continues to grow. While youth represent our future, many are also at risk of involvement with the justice system. In 2019 alone, juvenile courts handled over 722,000 delinquency cases involving teens between the ages of 12–18 (OJJDP, 2022). More than half of these cases involved children under the age of 16.

This raises an important question: why are so many young people entering the justice system at such an early age? And how can we, as a society, respond in ways that rehabilitate rather than punish?

Why Understanding the "Why" Matters

The human brain doesn’t fully develop until around the age of 25, particularly in areas that control impulse, judgment, and decision-making. Despite this, many young people still face harsh sentences—including cases where they are transferred to adult courts.

To create meaningful change, it’s essential to look at the pathways that lead youth into the system. These pathways include:

• The Womb to Prison Pipeline

• The School to Prison Pipeline

• Social Determinants of Health

• Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs)

• Systemic challenges within the Criminal Justice System

The Womb to Prison Pipeline

The "Womb to Prison Pipeline" is a relatively new concept. It suggests that children born into families facing poverty, substance use, untreated mental illness, or prior justice involvement are automatically at higher risk for incarceration.

The reality is simple: children don’t choose their families or their circumstances. Yet many begin life with enormous disadvantages—unstable homes, financial hardship, or exposure to trauma—that can set the stage for future struggles. When combined with the natural risks of adolescence (like hormonal changes and still-developing brains), these conditions create an environment where involvement with the justice system becomes far more likely.

The School to Prison Pipeline

Unlike the womb-to-prison theory, the School to Prison Pipeline has been studied for decades. This pathway describes how schools can unintentionally funnel students into the justice system through:

• Zero-tolerance policies

• Lack of support for students with learning or developmental disabilities

• Insufficient resources in underfunded schools

• Exposure to violence or unsafe school environments

When schools lack the resources to help struggling students, discipline often replaces support. Youth with disabilities or behavioral challenges are punished instead of rehabilitated, which can accelerate justice involvement rather than prevent it.

Social Determinants and Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs)

Youth development is also heavily shaped by social determinants of health—the conditions in which a child grows up. These include:

• Stable housing and income

• Access to education and healthcare

• Family and community support

• Safe living environments

When these factors are absent, the risk of justice involvement increases.

Closely linked are Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), such as domestic violence, neglect, abuse, or parental incarceration. Children who experience multiple ACEs often face higher risks of mental health challenges, educational struggles, and ultimately, encounters with the justice system.

Inside the Criminal Justice System

Once youth enter the system, the challenges only deepen. Judges and lawyers may view them solely through the lens of their crimes rather than their developmental stage or potential for change.

What the system often overlooks is this:

• The brain continues to mature well into the mid-20s.

• Most youth who commit offenses are actually low risk for repeat offenses as they mature.

• With proper treatment, education, and rehabilitation, young people are capable of transformation.

Unfortunately, lack of education about youth development among legal professionals often results in:

• Youth being tried in adult courts

• Harsh sentencing

• Denied parole

• Few resources after release

This cycle not only harms the individual but also weakens communities and perpetuates injustice.

Moving Toward Rehabilitation, Not Punishment

The research is clear: young people are not simply “small adults.” They are still developing, still learning, and still capable of remarkable change. When society invests in rehabilitation—through counseling, education, community support, and psychoeducation—we reduce recidivism and give youth the tools to build better futures.

The takeaway is this: to truly address youth crime, we must stop focusing solely on the punishment and instead address the root causes—poverty, trauma, unstable schools, and systemic inequities. Only then can we replace cycles of incarceration with cycles of healing and growth.

Moving Forward

Every child deserves a chance to be seen not just for their mistakes, but for their potential. By understanding the pathways that lead youth to the justice system, we can create pathways out—toward hope, resilience, and reintegration.