Question

Which statement identifies the central idea of the text?

A. Juvenile offenders who are sent to adult prisons have a harder time reentering society than their fellow adult prisoners.
B. Juvenile offenders shouldn’t be held accountable for their criminal actions, as it has been proven that their brains aren’t fully developed.
C. While some people support harsher punishment for juvenile offenders, research and personal stories show how rehabilitation can benefit young people.
D. The risk of rehabilitating rather than punishing juvenile offenders is too high, as they might return to crime after their release from prison.

Answer 1

The central idea of the text revolves around the benefits of rehabilitation over harsher punishments for juvenile offenders and how such measures can prevent future crimes.

Step-by-step explanation:

Considering the various information provided about juvenile offenders, rehabilitation, and incarceration, the statement that identifies the central idea of the text is: C. While some people support harsher punishment for juvenile offenders, research and personal stories show how rehabilitation can benefit young people. This statement incorporates the given problems of the rising number of serious crimes committed by youth and the failure of facilities to rehabilitate juveniles, as well as the exploration of alternatives to incarceration such as rehabilitation programs. It also acknowledges the differing views and encompasses the presented solution that rehabilitation could be a more effective method than incarceration for preventing recidivism among juvenile offenders.