Lowering juvenile crime starts by lifting families | READER COMMENTARY

Just as predictable as the ocean tide is the reaction of the public and elected officials when there is a spike in juvenile crime. The calls to “get tough on crime” flood the airwaves, newspapers and discussions in local and state government. The result is emotional fulfillment with trivial improvement in the life conditions of adolescents. Absent is a consideration of the systemic barriers and opportunities that can fundamentally change the trajectory of a young person’s life. A hodgepodge of...