Children behind bars

250,000 minors are prosecuted and sentenced in the adult criminal justice system each year, according to a report from the Campaign for Youth Justice. Some 100,000 of those are placed in adult prisons. Many states are moving away from the practice of trying juveniles as adults, but not everyone agrees that this is the right way to go.  Do minors ever belong in adult prisons? What are the psychological effects? And what are the politics driving the policy towards the processing of juvenile criminals?

On tonight's episode of The Stream, we speak to:

Liz Ryan @justiceforyouth
President, Campaign for Youth Justice
campaignforyouthjustice.org

Jody Robinson @VctmsTeenKillrs
Co-founder, National Organization for the Victims of Juvenile Lifers
teenkillers.org 

Gary Scott
Former Incarcerated Person
insightprisonproject.org

Glenn Martin @GlennEMartin
VP Public Affairs, Fortune Society
glennemartin.org

What do you think? Record a video comment or leave your thoughts in the comments below:

One argument against incarcerating juveniles in adult prisons is the likelihood of abuse. According to findings from the Prison Rape Elimination Act of 2003, juveniles are five times more likely to be raped in adult prisons than juvenile prisons. Another argument is against the behavioral patterns prisons appear to encourage. Youth who serve time in adult prisons, according to the Center for Disease Control, are 34 percent more likely to be re-arrested for a felony when they are released.

Many who argue for trying youth as adults say that it is the magnitude of the crime that matters, not the age of the individual who committed the crime. These advocates for 'victims' rights' are often family members of victims of juvenile crimes.