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Well, that's one way, and it is used now of course, but it's a pretty lame one. It's still fitting these cases into the existing system instead of changing it.
I think we should start by giving serious juvenile crimes punishment that doesn't automatically end at age 21, but still keeps them out of the adult system. And above all, it should acknowledge that these are still children and still need to have guidance to grow up, or else they'll just commit another crime and end up in prison anyway.
You are talking about building a new prison system...one for transitional offenders...that age from 21 till whenever they are released...IF they are ever released...and that simply isnt going to happen. You cant hold a 23 year old in the same system with a 12-13 year old, just like its not very wise to house aa 12-13 year old with a 35 year old banger. We still have finite budgets and the prison system and dollars for rehab isnt going to increase. You have to be able to create something tolerable.