The post world-war II era saw an unprecedented rate of growth for America. The birth of Corporate America gave people an opportunity to move out of the cities and into kinder, more picturesque suburbs. Women were entering the workforce in greater numbers. With two income families, Americans had more money to spend on luxuries such as boats, vacations and hobbies as they never had before. This was the beginning of a time when living was good, the quality of life was high, and everyone seemed happy.
             However, this idealistic lifestyle was not without its costs. Due to this mentality, the emphasis is now placed less on families and more on getting ahead by the quickest means available. We presently live in a get rich quick society and our youth is paying the price. The number of crimes involving children is epidemic.
             According to the Juvenile Justice Clearinghouse in Washington DC, "Twenty percent of serious violent crimes are committed by adolescents. Another eight percent are committed by adolescents in conjunction with older offenders" (Juvenile Justice Clearinghouse 427). This number is only going to increase. The JJC continues by stating, "Experts predict that if the present trends continue, by the year 2010, the number of juvenile arrests for violent crime will more than double" (428). Lawmakers seem to be constantly playing catch-up in their efforts to bring the crime rate down.
             The problem is that most efforts are ineffectual at best. For example, if a minor in the state of Utah commits four misdemeanors or one felony, then they are taken from their homes and placed in state correctional facilities or foster care. Taking them out of the main stream of society may seem like the logical thing to do, but many institutions provide only sterile environments for an offender to rehabilitate. In state run reform schools, a majority of the kids is able to check themselves out when they turn eighteen and most of them leave...