The percentage of US children living in single-parent households nearly tripled between 1960 and 2023, increasing from 9% to 25% (US Census Bureau 2023). In the same period, the share of households with fathers missing more than doubled, increasing from 11% to 25%.

I chose to use this article because it not only explains single-parent households but also stats on missing fathers. Like in the book, both Wes Moores had to grow up without a father and it affected both of them. Even with the short time Wes Moore the author had with is father before he died he thought Wes life lessons the incarcerated Wes didn’t have. His father taught him to be a gentle man and to not harm anyone especially women. He knew the right and wrongs of society

The articles also state that boys living in these conditions are more likely to engage in negative social behaviors (Kearney 2023), and girls often experience a lack of confidence and struggle with decision-making (Rothwell 2023).

This is true for the specificity of the incarcerated Wes Moore, as his environment, without a father figure, led him down a bad path. He was taught to be the protector of his family at a young age

Living with domestic violence significantly alters a child’s DNA, aging them prematurely 7-10 years.

Between 3.3 and 10 million children are exposed to domestic violence each year and have a greater risk of being violent in future relationships.

Children of domestic violence are 3 times more likely to repeat the cycle in adulthood, as growing up with domestic violence is the most significant predictor of whether or not someone will engage in domestic violence later in life.

Those who grow up with domestic violence are 6 times more likely to commit suicide and 50% more likely to abuse drugs and alcohol.

If you grow up with domestic violence, you’re 74% more likely to commit a violent crime against someone else.

Reasoning: These statistics show how domestic violence can affect children in different ways, which is how both Wes's had two different paths they went down. The only difference was that one had support and understanding of why domestic violence wasn't okay, and the other was left without any knowledge of domestic violence. Wes, the author, was taught to remember while Wes, the incarcerated, was taught not to question the actions of others.

A good community for a child fosters healthy development through safety, access to resources, and supportive relationships. In contrast, a bad community can lead to negative outcomes due to factors like poverty, violence, and lack of opportunities.

In the United States, approximately 11 million children live in poverty, representing about 16% of the child population. Children in low-income families are often raised in under-resourced neighborhoods. These areas frequently lack access to quality education, healthcare, and safe recreational spaces. Children from low-income families often attend underfunded schools with limited resources, leading to disparities in academic achievement. Factors such as food insecurity, housing instability, and lack of access to educational materials contribute to difficulties in concentration and learning.

Financial instability often leads to increased stress and can strain family relationships. Parents may work multiple jobs with irregular hours, limiting their ability to engage with their children’s education and well-being. This environment can perpetuate a cycle of poverty, making it difficult for future generations to break free from economic hardship.

Poverty and stress are contributing factors to higher incidences of child abuse and neglect. Children exposed to such adverse experiences are at a greater risk for developing behavioral issues and health problems later in life.

Intergenerational poverty, or the “cycle of poverty,” suggests that children raised in impoverished conditions are more likely to remain poor in adulthood. Breaking this cycle requires comprehensive strategies that address both immediate needs and long-term solutions. Access to quality education, stable employment opportunities, and supportive community resources are critical components in disrupting this cycle and promoting economic mobility.

Reasoning:

Although he grew up in poverty, Wes (author) had a community and the support of his grandparents/family looking out for him. He found community and solidarity through the basketball court, where people from all different walks of life come together to play basketball.

Wes (incarcerated) also grew up in poverty but without that same sort of support and community around him. Because his mother was always working, Wes (incarcerated) only had his older brother Tony looking out for him, causing Wes to idolize Tony. Tony tried his best to raise Wes so he would turn out like him, but Tony was around violence and gangs his whole life, so that's all he knew. Wes saw this and learned about violence and gangs without even realizing it. He had no one else to teach him why violence wasn't an acceptable response to conflict because of the lack of community he experienced.

In virtually every survey year, law enforcement agencies report a greater percentage of adult (18 and over) gang members compared with juvenile (under 18) gang members.

The most recent figures provided by law enforcement indicate that more than three out of every five gang members are at least 18. In 1990, 50% of gang members were under the age of 18

In the book, Wes (incarcerated) talks of his brother Tony, who at 14 had a fierce reputation in the neighborhood dealing drugs in the hallways of the Murphy Homes since he was 10. Tony was involved in a shoot-out in West Baltimore, and it was deemed Tony's corner.

Some respondents had a positive view of gangs, seeing them as a "family" or a place to "look out for one another." Gangs can offer an alternative support system and a means of survival in communities where traditional social structures have failed. 

Wes idolized his brother, so when he was punched, he went home and grabbed a knife to "send a message." Tony wasn't in a gang at this point but from the teachings of his brother, he has the mentality gangs perpetuate, which is focused on power, status, and belonging within the group

The neighborhood a child grows up in has significant long-term effects on their behavior. Six-to-seven percent of children in industrialized western societies are affected by their external environment. This includes: destroying properties, fighting, stealing, and refusing to follow rules; all of which they are more susceptible to in bad neighborhoods.

There was a study conducted by a researcher at John Hopkins School of Public Health between the years 1997-2007 on 3,563 children. Parents were asked to rate their neighborhood as "poor", "fair", "good", "very good", or "excellent". Then the parents had to rate the behavior level of their children on a scale of 0-20. Children within the ages of seven through twelve had the most noticiable differences in behavior. The behavior scores of the kids in the "poor" rated neighborhoods contrasted the behavior scores of the kids in the "excellent" rated neighborhood. A professor who studied this experiment, as well as others, believes that the longer a person lives in a bad/ good neighborhood, the more impact it will have on them.

I chose this article because it explains how the external factors and environment a child grows up in may affect their future behaviors. In the novel, both of the Wes Moores lived in a bad neighborhood. The difference, however, was that the author Wes moved to an improved quality neighborhood, while the other Wes was stuck in the same one. The author Wes' mother worked hard to move them to the Bronx. Here Wes was able to find community on the basketball courts. He made friends and learned lessons through playing ball. The other Wes though, lived within a "poor" neighborhood. His mother was not very present and his brother stepped up as his main caregiver. His brother was also raised in that neighborhood where he was surrounded by bad behaviors such as; substance abuse, violence, stealing, and destroying properties. He found "community" in his drug selling. He became a powerful dealer at a young age. The other Wes had a poor role model, even though his brother didn't want the other Wes to end up like him.

The bad environments some kids grow up in can predict their future behaviors such as; violence, substance abuse, and delinquency. Researchers believe if they can improve low quality neighborhoods, they can improve the behavior and quality of life for many people (especially kids), as well as lower the crime rates.

Solidarity is an erratic and unpredictable way of life. It can be an excuse for uninformed and misguided actions that create more difficulty for the person or community being assisted. For those in solidarity, it can be unfulfilling and dangerous, depriving the assister of their dominance protections.

The incarcerated Wes Moore seemed to have found the wrong kind of solidarity, which it is misguided and leads him down a dangerous path. The people around him influenced him negatively to start dealing drugs, smoking, and drinking. Wes hasn't seen an issue with these things because his friends and community deem it normal. Like its brother Tony, who leads by example, shows Wes that dealing drugs is the only way for him to make money and get the material things he wants.

Then again, there are great friendships of depth that are life-affirming and transforming, created through solidarity that may not solve the central conflict but that enrich people’s lives in other ways, while there are also sometimes no personal enhancements.

While with the author Wes Moore, he is struggling between his two worlds of school and home. At school, he tries to fit in with the rich kids. But when back in his neighborhood, when his friends ask about the school, he lies to seem like he runs it, trying to look cool. He doesn't know where he fits in because he is "too poor for Riverdale and too rich for his neighborhood friends." He tried to bridge his two worlds with a baseball game but this inevitably failed with the two different groups physically fighting never to interact again because they were "too different." Wes tried to bring solidarity into his life with his different friend groups but ended up being even more alone after the fact.

Addiction to substances is not a desire, it is a disease. Addiction causes the brain to rely on the substance for functioning as the brain rewires itself. It is a chronic illness that is very difficult to cure. However if the addiction is cured, it is still easy to relapse even years after being without. When someone is addicted to drugs; for example, it causes surges of dopamine to be released. This gives a sense of euphoria. Unfortunately, this causes life without the drug to seem worse and things that used to bring joy (like food, social activities, or sex) have less of an effect.

Addiction can be caused by a multitude of factors. There is no one answer, therefore no one way of solving the issue. However, there are small preventatives that can be taken to possibly steer one in the correct direction. This includes; a person's environment and development. Unfortunately, some people are born more susceptible to addiction because of their genes and biological makeup.

I chose this question because both of the Wes' encountered issues with drugs and alcohol. The author Wes Moore started skipping school and ended up getting caught for using drugs. His life was set up for success. His mother worked hard to try and give him the opportunity of a good life. He did it because of the influence from his friend. The other Wes Moore started taking drugs, selling drugs, and drinking alcohol. This was due to his brother and friends doing it and influencing him. He also had a disadvantage in the aspect that his father had acoholism, making the other Wes more likely to have an addiction as well.

Living in neighborhoods with high levels of violence can affect children’s development by changing the way that a part of the brain detects and responds to potential threats, potentially leading to poorer mental health and other negative outcomes. However, nurturing parents can help protect kids against these detrimental effects.

Researchers found that participants who lived in more disadvantaged neighborhoods reported more exposure to community violence. Despite living in a disadvantaged neighborhood, children with more nurturing and involved parents were not as likely to be exposed to community violence, and for those who were exposed, having a more nurturing parent diminished the impact of violence exposure on the brain.

This highlights the need for structural solutions to protect children from the negative impact of exposure to community violence. It also points to how strong, positive parents can promote resilience among children and teens exposed to adversity.

Reasoning:

Both Wes' grew up in neighborhoods that were surrounded by violence and were unsafe, so why did they end up going down completely different paths?

Wes (incarcerated) was more involved with crime due to his brother Tony becoming a drug dealer from a very early age. Despite Tony's advice, Wes is envious of his lifestyle and soon becomes a drug dealer, too. Because of his mother's absence and lack of parenting due to her constantly working, Wes only has Tony to look up to. There was no one around to nurture both Tony and Wes, so they became involved in crime.

However, Wes (author) went down a completely separate path. Wes grew up in both Baltimore and then later on the Bronx, both known to be very unsafe areas where crime was overflowing the community. Despite this, Wes was still able to steer away from this aspect of his community. This is due to him having a nurturing mother who worked three jobs to be able to pay for Wes's private school education. Not only did he have a nurturing mother, he also had grandparents who looked out for him when his mother wasn't around. This factors into how these two lead different lives.

Young people especially long for an identity since they are so impressionable. Being apart of a community has good mental health effects on humans. However, since others shape the way people act it can have good or bad influence. For example; since LeBron had good friends around him, they convinced him not to join a gang when he was young. Due to their push, LeBron never joined the gang and was able to pursue a serious career in basketball without getting caught in crime. Crime would've ruined his chances in basketball. Environmental factors also have effect on the commuity a kid chooses.

I chose this question because sometimes even being a part of a well-behaved group does not

In the novel the author Wes Moore finds community in playing basketball. The people playing welcome him. Wes feels more included in the Bronx. The other Wes Moore's brother was deep in the drug game and taught him violence. This caused Wes to bring a knife to a fight in a fit of rage. This is what he was taught, this is what was normalized in his family and his neighborhood.

I chose this question because many many, in the book and in my life, attempt to mask their emotions. Whenever asked why they don't share their true emotions and ask for help, they always give some response like; "because I'm a guy". I don't understand this though. What about being vulnerable with your feelings is feminine? Why do men continue to pass on this stereotype that they must always stay strong? Even some of the most influential men showed their emotions. For example; Jesus weeped to His Father when He was praying in the garden prior to His death for He was scared of dying. Jesus is seen as the strongest man to EVER live, so what is wrong with asking for help, or crying?

There's a stigma around being vulnerable in the male community. From a young age they are taught they must act a certain way; tough, strong, and masculine. They are told they must hide their emotions in order to achieve that status. As a result, about 1 in 10 men suffer in silence from a mental disorder. Since they conceal their emotions, they are more likely to turn to other methods for relief such as; substance abuse. Men continue this cycle of "manliness" by teaching their children the same stereotype that they must fight alone. The stereotype causes men to struggle more in life. It can have harmful effects such as; lowered self esteem, overreactions, trouble communicating with partners, stress, anxiety, depression, higher heart rate, and substance abuse. There are many communities and support groups offering help to men and encouraging them to speak up about the way they feel.

I feel as if this is why the Kairos Retreat is so successful at NDCL. It allows men to be vulnerable without judgement from others. It is relieving for them to be able to come out about what they're going through and get help from peers and staff.

In the novel, the other Wes Moore is taught by his brother that he must act tough. He is taught to fight back and never let anyone else get the last swing. He is taught how to be a stereotypical man. It is seen through his character, and as the book progresses it is clear the toll his emotion suppression has on him. Wes never had a father and never really spoke about it. He had no one to be vulnerable with. He didn't view the role as important, so when he, himself became a father, he didn't take it seriously. He resorted to cheating and substance abuse. The author Wes Moore does express his emotions in subtle ways. For example; after initially being sent to the military academy he expresses his displeasure with being there and how his mother hurt him by actually sending him away. Also, when Wes' dad died he was able to speak about it with his siblings and with his community, who supported him and his family at the start of their struggles.

Advances in science are presenting an increasingly clear picture of how significant adversity in the lives of young children can disrupt the development of the brain and other biological systems. People continue to look for differences and claim superiority.

Racism and its effects can lead to chronic stress for children.

After Wes experienced a racial attack, he struggled greatly on how he should handle it. He should handle it how the military school taught him or how his hometown and neighborhood taught him. It shows what could have happened if he had chosen to act according to what his neighborhood taught him based on what the other Wes does. The other Wes handles situations with violence, like how he shoots Ray because he had "no choice but to finish it."

They are more likely to be harshly punished for minor infractions, less likely to be identified as needing special education, and teachers may underestimate their abilities. And when a teacher doesn't believe in you, you are less likely to believe in yourself.

Wes's (the author's) friend Justin was told to stop hanging around Wes at age 12 because Justin had a bright future, and Wes's life wouldn't go anywhere. The teacher had no faith in Wes because of the things he was going through at the time. This could have been detrimental to Wes's education because, based on what Justin was going through, that could have been the tipping point for Wes to stop pursuing school altogether.

Men­tor­ing involves a sup­port­ive, car­ing rela­tion­ship between an adult and a young per­son, either estab­lished for­mal­ly through a pro­gram or occur­ring nat­u­ral­ly, such as with a neigh­bor or coach. For­mal men­tor­ing rela­tion­ships may be offered through a school, com­mu­ni­ty, or faith-based pro­gram. New data indi­cate that decades of men­tor­ing progress may be erod­ing at a time when youth men­tal health needs are soaring.

Qual­i­ty men­tor­ing rela­tion­ships help young peo­ple access oppor­tu­ni­ties and offer sup­port and guid­ance as they nav­i­gate life chal­lenges. Men­tors can help close oppor­tu­ni­ty gaps often observed for youth grow­ing up in pover­ty or dis­ad­van­taged com­mu­ni­ties by con­nect­ing them with new net­works, resources, and pos­si­bil­i­ties that oth­er­wise may not be available.

The research is clear: Rela­tion­ships play a pow­er­ful role in youth devel­op­ment and suc­cess. Young peo­ple need sta­ble, car­ing rela­tion­ships with adults to thrive, and men­tors can pro­vide this cru­cial sup­port. In light of the alarm­ing nation­al youth men­tal health cri­sis, men­tor­ing is poised to be a key part of the solu­tion to this pub­lic health prob­lem. Stud­ies have found that men­tor­ing dur­ing child­hood can strength­en men­tal health.

Benifits: At the heart of it, men­tor­ing helps meet the basic human need of let­ting young peo­ple know they mat­ter and are not alone. Men­tor­ing rela­tion­ships pro­mot­ed a strong sense of belong­ing in youth, an inter­nal asset essen­tial for healthy devel­op­ment. The emo­tion­al and prac­ti­cal sup­port that men­tors offer has also been linked to pos­i­tive aca­d­e­m­ic, per­son­al, and pro­fes­sion­al achieve­ments.

Men­tored youth who expe­ri­enced adver­si­ty while grow­ing up were more than twice as like­ly to vol­un­teer in their com­mu­ni­ty and hold a lead­er­ship posi­tion in a club or sports team.

Reasoning:

Wes (author) not only had one mentor to look up to, but he also had the support of his family, even if he wasn't around them all the time. He knew his mother was proud of him and supported him from afar. She took a major interest in his life even when he was away at military school. Wes's mentors were the people he looked up to at his military school. He saw how important leadership was and knew how to become a good leader because of his mentors. His support system also helped him get out of trouble. He didn't face his problems entirely alone. When he was being called racial slurs, he was with his friend Dalio. Instead of causing more problems and becoming violent like he would have done earlier in his life, Wes decided to walk away, showing the contrast in who he was before military school and who he is now becoming.

Wes (incarcerated) didn't have any good role models or mentors to look up to. He was in and out of juvenile detention centers before he eventually dropped out of high school. He then goes to live with his aunt, who also doesn't have much of an involvement in his life. This is when he becomes a full-time drug dealer. He doesn't have anyone to rely on for consistent help and support, so he becomes a drug dealer as his last resort. He is caring for himself and trying to stay afloat when he gets arrested by an undercover cop for dealing drugs. He faced this conflict all alone, with no positive mentor or friend to help him out of his situation. This is completely different from Wes (author) because he has a friend to support him while facing his tough situation, while Wes (incarcerated) is left all alone to face his decisions.

The pattern of offenders continuing to commit crimes is known as recidivism. It is not just a problem for the individual offender but for communities and society at large. The World Population Review estimates that as many as 17% of criminals in Illinois return to jail within one year of their release and 38.5% within three years.

Influential Factors:

1. Many offenders lack the necessary education or vocational skills to secure stable employment. Without job opportunities, they may find supporting themselves and their families challenging, leading them back to criminal activities to make ends meet.

2. Substance abuse often plays a significant role in criminal behavior. Experts estimate that a staggering 85% of people in prison in the United States struggle with drug addiction. Those struggling with addiction may resort to criminal activities to support their habit. If these underlying addiction issues are not addressed, the cycle of crime can continue.

3. Rehabilitation programs that provide support, therapy, and skills training are vital for helping offenders reintegrate into society. Unfortunately, not all offenders have access to these programs, or the programs themselves may be inadequate. This lack of support can leave offenders ill-equipped to make positive changes in their lives.

4. Mental health conditions can be both a cause and a consequence of criminal behavior. Without proper diagnosis, treatment, and support, mental health problems can continue to drive a person towards criminal activity.

5. The influence of family and social networks can be powerful. Convicted offenders who return to the same environment that contributed to their criminal behavior may find it difficult to break free from negative influences. Family or peer pressure may push them back into criminal activities.

6. When individuals find themselves trapped in poverty, they may see crime as the only viable way to escape their circumstances. Convicted offenders continue to commit crimes for many reasons deeply rooted in social, economic, psychological, and environmental factors. Addressing these challenges requires a comprehensive approach that not only focuses on punishment but also emphasizes ways to give individuals the tools and opportunities they need to break the cycle of crime.

Reasoning:

Wes (incarcerated) was around violence and crime because of Tony, so when he was arrested for attempted murder early in his life, that unknowingly set the tone for the rest of his life. He was going through the cycle of recidivism from then on. He recieved some support was when earning his GED through Job Corp but then the support ended when he graduated which lead him back to dealing drugs and left him completly alone.

Wes (author) also grew up in poverty and around an unsafe neighbohood, the difference is that he also had a support system that was highly involved and invested in his life. They made sure he knew that crime is never an option and that violence is never nessassary in order to get the life he wants. He also had job oppurtunities through the military school and was shown that he had options and choices in life despite his past actions.

Recidivism is one of the most fundamental concepts in criminal justice. It refers to a person's relapse into criminal behavior, often after the person receives sanctions or undergoes intervention for a previous crime.

Wes Moore (the other) experienced recidivism when he returned home after Laurel Job corp. Laurel only provided him with low-income and unstable jobs.. He was feeling hopeless and alone so he went back to what he always did, drug dealing to have a higher income to provide for his family. This was becasue of the lack of support and solidarity the job corp provided Wes after he was back in his enviorment.

Recidivism is an important concept when considering the core criminal justice topics of incapacitation, specific deterrence, rehabilitation, and desistance.

• Incapacitation refers to the effect of a sanction that prevents people from committing crime in the community through removal, often achieved by placing someone in jail, prison, or other custodial environment.

• Specific deterrence is the theoretical concept that experiencing a sanction may discourage people from committing further crime.

• Rehabilitation refers to the extent to which a program is associated with the ability to reduce crime and improve lives by addressing criminogenic risks and needs.

• Desistance is the process of individuals ceasing engagement in criminal activities.

However, Wes Moore (the author) does not experience recidivism after leavong the military acadamy for multipe reasons. It is a longer and more commited program for the student. Instead of a couple months, the military school because the studenst primary education sometimes all the way through college. Most importantly the connected Wes made in the acadamy followed him long after his graduation. Specifically with Paul White, the man that wes credites his adimition into John Hoppkins, saying "for the rest of us—those who snuck in despite coming from the margins—the mission has to be to pull up others behind us. That's what Paul White did for me, and it changed my life" (Moore 161). This proving the succsess rate a person can have with continuited solidarity through their life