The vast majority of U.S. taxpayers say that youth offenders can be rehabilitated and that failing to do so is tantamount to giving up on their future, according to a new survey and study.

A poll (PDF format, 246 KB) conducted by the Center for Children's Law and Policy found that 70 percent of Americans view imprisoning young offenders without providing rehabilitation negatively, while 90 percent believe that nearly all young offenders have the potential for change.

Americans also say they are willing to pay up to 20 percent more in taxes to rehabilitate young offenders rather than jailing them, according to a research report from the MacArthur Research Network (PDF format, 219 KB).

"Momentum is gathering across the nation to replace harsh, ineffective measures with programs that address the welfare of young people while preserving safe communities," said Jonathan Fanton, president of the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, which funded the survey and study. "The public understands that youth in trouble with the law are not lost, and that working with them to solve problems is a better approach to public safety than just locking them up."