1 in 100 American Adults Incarcerated

Sub-title: Are Parents Part Of The Blame?

The United States has approximately 5% of the world population, but about 25% of the world’s prison population.  Recently, the Pew Center released a report revealing 1 out of every 100 American adults is in prison.  To place it all in perspective, there are states spending the same amount or more on incarceration than they do on adult continuing education systems.

Given the enormity of the recidivision rate, it’s no surprise that our great nation has crossed this shameful threshold.  Are parents part of the blame? Are parents doing enough to bring about the structure that can help keep their children from going to prison in the first place?  Or is the penal system more focused on warehousing than rehabilitation?  or is it some of both?

When was the last time you spoke to your children about their goals in life? Can your children talk to you about sex and drugs without you saying, “Just Say No”?  Do your children rarely answer their phones around you?  Are your children doing things they normally don’t do around you, like using slang and dressinglike the entertainers they see in videos?  Although these action are not fully guaranteed to mean they’re headed down the wrong path, chances are they are.  But whatever the case, you really need to sit down and have a heart to heart with your children.  Ask some pointed questions: have you ever thought about having sex? Have you ever though about smoking weed or popping pills?  Are any of your friends at school having sex or using drugs?  (If they say no, chances are they’re hiding something.)

Several statistical studies with teenagers reveal they are becoming sexually active around 5th and 6th grade and engaging in actual intercourse by 8th grade.  Another study amongst 11-17 year-olds found that 44% of the children surveyed used drugs and had friends that used drugs.  73% surveyed, say they were with friends when they tried drugs for the first time. (64% got the drugs from their friends.)

But as disheartening as these studies might be, parents must ask themselves, “What am I doing wrong?” “Am I spending too much time away from my children? Am I too dependent on the Public School system?  Do my children have too much free time on their hands? Do I even know who my children’s friends are?  Do I even know where my children are right now?

If not, count on the criminal justice system raising your children for you.

By Cedric Dean

Author: “How To Stop Your Children From Going To Prison”

Tags: Children, Criminal, Drugs, Friends, Goals, Justice, Nation, Prison, Sex, Teenagers