Why are a disproportionate number of young adults, ages 18 to 24, arrested and jailed in the United States?
Here are some of the numbers from a report by Fair and Just Prosecution:
- 18-to-24-year-olds accounted for 24.6 percent of all arrests and 26 percent of all burglary, robbery and aggravated assault arrests, even though that age group accounts for just 10 percent of the U.S. population.
- Black males accounted for 40 percent of the 18-to-24-year-olds admitted to state and federal prisons.
- Young adults also are more likely to be re-arrested following release from custody (78.2 percent) compared to all released prisoners (71 percent).
The report cites neuroscience and psychological research that young adults are in a unique phase of life between childhood and adulthood. Because their brains are less “cognitively” developed, young people ages 18 to 24 are more likely to take risks, are more susceptible to excitement when surrounded by peers, and are more likely to resist authority. They also are less likely to exert self-control when tempted by the perceived rewards of risky behavior.
All of this points to a need to provide mentorship to at-risk teenagers and young adults, says Jerry Johnson, a former prosecutor and founder of Saving Icarus.
“Now that we know better, we should do better,” Johnson says. “We can’t and shouldn’t try to incarcerate our way out of a social problem.”
The Fair and Just Prosecution report suggests that finding a better way to deal with young adults caught in the system is critical to reducing recidivism.
Johnson says he’s seen enough. With Saving Icarus, he’s combined his love of bicycling with a mentoring program to help young people stay out of the criminal justice system. “I want to help kids stay out of jails and get onto the trails,” he says.
Fill out the Saving Icarus contact form to get more information about the program and how you can help.
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