States such as Louisiana have seen high rates of recidivism among young people and young adults. Some blame the juvenile justice system, in which young offenders convicted of minor offenses such as shoplifting are imprisoned with kids who've committed serious crimes such as murder or rape.
Guests debate whether the system is broken, and what might be done to lower the number of repeat offenders.
Guests:
Mark Steward, executive director of the Missouri Youth Services Institute; retired director of the Missouri Division of Youth Services; works with Louisiana Office of Youth Development to develop changes in the state's juvenile reform system
Vincent Schiraldi, director, D.C. Department of Youth Rehabilitation Services
David Utter, executive of the Juvenile Justice Project of Louisiana
Michael Kroll, senior editor of The Beat Within, a weekly magazine with material written by youth in California juvenile corrections facilities
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