Boot camp would be best for young offenders

By Steven Buhs

A Nov. 23 article in the Southeast Missourian, "Two teenagers plead guilty in armed robbery case," regarding the future sentencing of two young men for a KFC armed robbery brings to light a subject that the state is currently failing to address: What do we do with youthful offenders?

In the article, Catrice Moore (a cousin of one of the guilty teens) makes an excellent point. The young men involved may not have had a good role model. Ms. Moore further suggests that a form of boot camp-like environment may better serve the needs of both the offenders and the citizens of the state.

I currently work as a correctional classification assistant at the maximum security prison in Charleston, Mo. Daily, I sit across from 17- and 18-year-old "kids" with decades of time to serve because of poor judgment as juveniles. This I can assure the public: The odds of a teenager who is placed into the adult correctional system returning to society as a productive citizen is not likely. Daily life for these "kids" involve trying to avoid rape, assaults and the same gang violence and influences that brought them here.

Many may believe that once a person is incarcerated he or she should take advantage of the programs and educational opportunities available. Those of you who have teenagers surely know that without adult guidance, constant supervision and tons of encouragement to do the right thing, any of our children can stray. Well, place those "kids" in a state prison and let that guidance, supervision and encouragement come from professional criminals, and, as you can guess, the results are the production of hardened criminals.

Recidivism is at an all-time high for the state. Those who leave the system soon return. Ms. Moore's plea for a boot camp-type of correctional center in Missouri is right on the money. Youthful, first-time offenders who are placed in an environment where discipline, hard work and respect of others and their property are at the core of the institution may be the state's only chance to provide misdirected youth the opportunity to have the values which should have been instilled in the home, and the possibility of a productive adult life.

While it might be too late for the two youthful offenders about to enter the violent world of a state prison, we as a society must continue to look for better ways to handle today's troubled youths. In terms of dollars and cents, redirecting troubled youth into productive citizens is always a good investment. As caring human beings, most would agree a young life is always a terrible thing to waste.

While the prosecutor and the judge have a job to do, I would hope that careful consideration be given as to the age of the offenders.

The time has come for Missouri to look at boot camp program for youthful offenders in an effort to stop the revolving -door prison system Missouri is currently maintaining.

Steven Buhs, a corrections classification assistant at the Southeast Correctional Center in Charleston, Mo., lives in Cape Girardeau.