In response to:
No, that is not why they are called criminal minds, it is why they are called juvenile offenders. How many kids make one mistake, learn from it, then go on to live productive lives? Many more than become hardened criminals, I'd wager.
I think the key word in you post is "kids". That's what they are, so better to try to rehabilitate than lock them away like they are some evil criminal masterminds.
in canada it doesn't quite work that way and thats what is being discussed here. kids under 16 cannot be prosecuted like an adult and end being let off for 'whatever' they do. They get the taste for getting away with it and because the cannot be given serious punishment and have no rehab happening for them ....
I agree, some kids, even grown ups can learn and will, that rehab works for some, but only for some, the size and need for jails is beyond capacity... that in itself speaks volumes against the success of current justice systems.
I'm not big on killing murderers either, or anyone for that matter, I'm just saying let them deal with other murderers in their own enviroment, let them beat each other up, let god sort them out. The jails would soon be down to controlled levels with people who wanted and would succeed with rehab.