I wonder how much of it has to do with how kids getting caught for entry-level crimes like petty vandalism and shoplifting are treated. Are they getting thrown into big prisons where they can learn from their fellow inmates how to deal drugs, rob stores safely, steal identities, etc, and also get a criminal record that prevents them from ever getting an education or an honest job paying more than minimum wage? Or are they getting just enough of an encounter with the legal system to scare the crap out of them without any of the potential long-term consequences?