Victims of sexual, physical, and mental abuse are often pushed into their own category in society. Separated, misunderstood and often being seen as hopeless, victims of abuse are often forced to try to sort out their hardships alone.Unfortunately when children are exposed to abusive environments, it can cause them to turn into the abuser. It is estimated that 250,000 minors in the United States are tried, sentenced or imprisoned as adults. These facts are unfortunate because often times, children with records grow up to be adults who have a hard time looking for employment.

My heart poured out compassion when I first read about the case of 13 year old, Cristian Fernandez. And this isn't another hate speech about the prosecutor Angela Corey, but simply an acknowledgement of how some children lives turn out due to unhealthy back grounds.When Cristian Fernandez was born, he was not prepared for the hard life he had been called to endure. He didn't know that he would be surrounded by drug addicts, or that he would sexually assaulted, or that he and his mother would be physically abused on numerous occasions. Due to what seems like an anger fit, he assaulted his 2 year old brother, which made him slip into coma, ultimately ending his life. When asked questions about his reasoning, he explained that he remembered he was angry at his stepfather (who also abused him physically) and took it out on his brother.

These turn of events are the saddest part of the story. And many would deem him as worthless, just for the mere fact that if he did escape his lifelong sentence of imprisonment, then he would virtually have no luck in finding a good job, or making a means to live. The fact that he was virtually raised by broken people, who hurt him over and over, then to be virtually raised by the prison system. It's sad to know that these children turn into adults who need psychiatric help, just for the past abusive environments they've had since coming out of the womb.

Hopefully in the near future, we can find better ways to help individuals who have grown up in this type of environment. To further their healing process, and even help them to get their life on a trail of hope.