Children who experience ACEs are more susceptible to engaging in illegal acts later in adulthood. Despite the frequency of ACEs within the prison population, the criminal justice system continues to employ a punitive ideology in its operations instead of addressing the ACEs that lead people to commit illegal acts. Many defendants in this study had prior charges and/or were confirmed to have previously served some amount of time in an incarceration facility before they appeared in court to be tried again. The criminal justice system is sometimes referred to as a “revolving door” because it describes the high recidivism rate and how many released ex-offenders return to jail a few years after their release. Every single defendant in the study had current and/or previous drug charges or a history of substance abuse, which goes to show how much the criminal justice system needs to change the way it approaches substance use disorders if the goal is to reduce recidivism. A punitive approach to substance abuse and addiction is ineffective when people who have experienced a multitude of ACEs are released from prison just to return to the same environment that they were arrested from.

In modern America, as well as the world, violence and extremist ideologies are taking an increasingly central role in affairs. Students are struggling to learn and lack basic analytical skills. In the age of social media, the values of examining literature, critical thinking, and contextual understanding are disappearing. Yet these skills nevertheless remain necessary for life. In taking on civic duties as adults, students must be able to understand and engage with the increasingly complex and dangerous world they live in, particularly one where the threat of terror haunts everyday life. It is thus important for young adults to be exposed to violent or otherwise disagreeable material. Extremism is a reality of today’s society, and younger generations must be prepared to process and respond to it. Critical thinking skills, which are often insufficiently developed, are crucial to this. The goals of this project are to provide a mature, appropriate, and thoughtful approach to violent or radical ideologies, allowing students to hone critical analysis skills and understand how to respond to a world where extremism is becoming increasingly prevalent. This thesis provides an introduction to the idea of terror and extremism, its history, and its impact on American culture and curriculum. This sets the stage for a discussion on critical thinking, emphasizing the importance of such a skill and how it can best be taught. In light of this, it is important for controversial or mature materials to be read in class, as they not only help students understand what goes on in the world but also provide opportunities for students to develop strong critical thinking skills in a safe and encouraging environment.