expert and with any data analysis things can be skewed, but I have read several articles that quote studies showing jail time has little impact on if a person will commit a crime again. The amount of repeat offenders supports this. A quick Google search shows that 70% of offenders reoffend within 5 years. 82% within 10 years. Prison time in the US is not about restitution and reform, it is simply punishment. Punishment is important, and needed, but by itself it does little to deter future crime.

This kid needs to perform restitution for what he did. It was a serious act that seriously injured another person over something as petty as a football game. That is not excusable and he should not be simply given a slap on the wrist. Just being put in jail will also not serve much of a purpose. I'm not sure what other options a judge can turn to, but they need to find a way to make him perform real acts of service to others in a manner that is fairly disruptive to his short-term future. The cheer coach is not able to do a lot of what she wants to do now because of this and so there should be a similar impact on his current life and lifestyle, but I don't think prison time is the answer.