A prominent youth development advocate has issued a compelling plea for the urgent reform of the youth justice system, citing alarming findings from a recent study. Shawn Clarke, CEO of Supreme Counselling for Personal Development, emphasized the need for systemic change in response to research conducted by the Criminal Justice Research and Planning Unit (CJRPU). The study, presented by Senior Research Analyst Kirt Goodridge at the Courtyard Marriott, revealed that the current youth justice framework is excessively punitive and ineffective, trapping young men in a cycle of violence, incarceration, and reoffending. The research focused on 47 young men under 25 on remand for violent crimes, with 91% aged between 19 and 25. Most had prior encounters with the law, highlighting systemic failures in rehabilitation and discipline. Clarke expressed deep concern over the findings, stating that they were not surprising but deeply troubling. He attributed the issues to a combination of neglect, broken homes, trauma, and an education system that often abandons at-risk youth prematurely. Clarke argued that by the time these young people enter the justice system, they have already been failed by multiple institutions. He called for a shift from punishment-heavy interventions to community-based rehabilitation and early intervention initiatives that address the root causes of problematic behavior. Clarke also highlighted the limitations of sports as a crime prevention tool, advocating for mandatory life skills training, counselling, and therapy to complement such programs. He urged authorities to invest in identifying and supporting at-risk students before they enter the justice system, emphasizing the importance of early intervention to prevent future legal issues. Clarke’s proposals include mandatory counselling and skills development for young people exhibiting problematic behavior, such as bullying, to address psychological challenges and foster positive development.