by Angie Pollock

Created on: May 21, 2008   Last Updated: June 30, 2008

The first instinct answer to this question by most including myself is yes. Yes, let children tour prisons especially those heading down a path of destruction. Yes, let them see how prisoners live inside those concrete walls. But before making a true decision, individuals should consider the full ramifications of allowing children to enter this type of environment and what that child will bring from the experience.

The bigger question should be "Will touring or visiting a prison prevent children from committing crimes or will it put them on the straight and narrow?".

My first reaction to this question was "yes". Children are becoming involved in violent crimes at younger and younger ages. Maybe a little visit to the jailhouse will wake them up. But after having a discussion with my two teenage children, I came away with a different view that I would like to share.

All individuals including children know about consequences. For every action there is a reaction. Adults and children know that if they break the law they can be incarcerated. That has not stopped adults and our children from breaking the law. Just look inside our system at the over-crowding cells and anyone can see that prison is not a deterrent for crime.

Our children believe they are invincible and they won't get caught breaking the law. A tour of a prison will not deter them because they have that belief that they are too smart to get caught. People learn from mistakes and experience. If you allow a child to actually experience prison, then that might have some kind of impact. Just walking through a hall and seeing the cells, the beds and the inmates will not have much of an impact because they don't have the full experience of life inside a prison. Even experience living behind bars has not deterred criminals which has been proven by the many repeat offenders seen in our justice system.

There are reasons that children commit crimes and many alternatives that can be taken to help prevent crimes from ever happening. Communities should focus on the reasons that these children are turning to crime and then find the alternatives that will turn these kids'lives around.

An issue that is rising among young children is parents not taking responsibility for their children and giving excuses for their children's behavior. Children are allowed to go places at young ages without supervision and roam the neighborhoods at all hours of the night. Every day we hear of another young child dying from drugs or violence.

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