by Gabriella Samms

Created on: July 10, 2010   Last Updated: July 11, 2010

Over the years, television has brought us new insights into the workings of the corrections systems all over the world. Shows like "The Big House", "Lock up", and "Inside American Jail", are just a few that take us within the walls of facilities to see those that have been incarcerated for crimes ranging from petty theft to murder. It is true that America has a system of punishment rather than rehabilitation; so much like the laws inside the homes of our future criminals. When parents fail to teach right from wrong, what is moral and what isn't, and fail to provide consequences to their children for wrong doing; we have a problem. I say "we" because our taxes will most undoubtedly be used to house these same children who have grown into teenagers who came from homes where nature versus nurture falls too much on the side of their home environments.

This is not to say that teens from good, moral homes don't commit crimes; they do.  However, they do not fall into the category of heinous acts committed over and over by teens that grew up in dysfunctional homes. Unlike other teens whose sentences are a few months in jail or probation, teens from homes where morals, values and lack of parental involvement or supervision are the most probable to end up with lengthy jail or prison sentences due to long criminal histories. Many of these teen's parents will admit they had no control over their kids, because they failed to act during the time when it was most important.

Interviews with prison inmates across the United States bring a wealth of information about how a good kid can turn bad. Lack of parenting, one parent homes, or parents abusing drugs and alcohol is an example that is subconsciously set for the teens to learn from. The old saying, "You learn where you live" cannot be ignored. Kids of any age learn by example, leaving those whose parent's fail to provide a stable, productive environment to make their own sets of rules. With no chalkboard to learn from, they choose the way of life that comes easiest to live by; crime. Teens without a solid foundation from either one or two parents tend to lean toward gangs as a substitute for a family. From then on they are expected to live by the laws of their group, which inevitably will get them into trouble. Gangs are the family they never had.

Parenting shouldn't start when teens are already in serious trouble; it's too late then. Proper parenting is something that continues

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