A 14-year-old was found guilty of beating and raping a 73-year-old neighbor. The prosecutor had successfully argued for the child to be tried as an adult. The jury is considering a long adult prison term

Question

Which of the following would the nurse most likely suggest when called on as an expert witness?
a.
The child must be mentally ill to have done such a thing and should be in a mental hospital.
b.
The child should be in a juvenile facility to avoid the high risk of sexual assaults, beatings, and suicide in adult prison.
c.
The child should be given a long adult prison sentence to protect society from such a predator.
d.
The child must be given an opportunity to complete high school while incarcerated in the adult prison.

Answer 1

ANS: B
Adult correctional facilities are not generally equipped to deal with the challenges of adolescent development. Adolescents in an adult correctional facility are five times more likely to be sexually assaulted, three times more likely to be beaten by prison guards, and 50% more likely to be assaulted with a weapon, compared with adolescents held in a juvenile center. Juveniles in adult correctional facilities are eight times more likely than juveniles in the juvenile center to commit suicide. Thus, it is in the best interest of the adolescent to be placed in a juvenile facility. The placement of an adult prison or mental hospital would not be in the best interest of this child.