In the Mobile County Justice System, a non-violent juvenile inmate is treated very differently from a non-violent adult inmate. A recent interview with an ex-inmate that had been previously convicted as a youth and convicted again shortly thereafter as a young adult, demonstrated that the programs implemented at both facilities are haphazardly executed, showing little regard for future rehabilitation of an inmate.
Upon interviewing Mr. Covington, I discovered that there are very generalized sentencing procedures whether you are a youth or an adult. Mr. Covington was 16 years old when he was charged and convicted of vandalism. The conviction for vandalism as a youth involves a 9-month in-house stay, with no variability or appeal process. However, three years later, Mr. Covington was convicted and after a lost appeal was sentenced to serve ten years, with a minimum three year stay and parole hearings every six months, for check fraud.
Mr. Covington entered the James T. Strickland Youth Center when he was a junior in high school. The Youth Center grouped 9-12 grades together for 4 hours per day into one classroom. The focus of each subject was to pass the end of course test, with tests made available for studying instead of learning the curriculum needed to understand the subjects. Mr. Covington felt that the Youth Centers minimum passing requirements and testing policies focused more on memorization skills than the building blocks needed for a future education, leaving him at a severe disadvantage upon returning, as a senior, to a conventional high school. After dropping out of high school, Mr. Covington did not fare any better as a young adult entering the Mobile Count Metro Jail. The County Jail does not have any programs in effect for further education of inmates. The inmate is left on his own, with very limited resources to find a way to advance his education. Mr. Covington spent the next two years studying on his own for the High School Equivalency Diploma, which took him several attempts to accomplish.
The Term Paper on Causes of violence among the youths and young adults
Our current society’s ever bringing up youths. In the most modern society, youths are viewed as tomorrow’s leaders. It’s the parents up-bringing formula that shall serve to make them or break them. As they grow up daily these young adults acquire behaviors that seemingly contribute much to their final being. These acts of behavior may either humble them or cause them to acquire a level of ...
After serving his 9 months in the Strickland Youth Center, with only twice a week counseling sessions for anger management, Mr. Covington continued on a deteriorating path. After being convicted again and serving his initial 2 years at Mobile County Metro, with no counseling, Mr. Covington did take advantage of a work release program. Mr. Covington viewed work release as his only option to improve his future employability.
I am pleased that Mr. Covington, a homeowner, married, active father, employed citizen, was able to turn his life around, but I don’t think the Justice System in Mobile County can take any credit for his continued success. The Justice System showed no standards of proportionality for the crimes committed or cognitive structured programs to facilitate a rehabilitated inmate.
