Justice Randall Worrell threw out the challenge in the No. 3 Supreme Court as he dismissed jurors after a session of the Continuous Sitting of the Assizes.
"Some of these young people do not have the benefit of a father or close-knit family," he said.
Justice Worrell said such adoptions should take place from within the primary schools, as 90 per cent of the youth would
be lost forever if they were not helped at this stage.
"If there is anything you could do within your community, try your very best. If you see that parents are not pulling their weight, you could adopt someone," he said.
Justice Worrell added that in the final analysis, there would be gratification if a person could mould a child in a different direction
to prevent him, or her from ending up before the law courts.
He attributed a good portion of the offences to the "scourge of illegal drugs", stating that that was where a number of young people got lost.
He said too many young people came before the courts on various charges, and something needed to be done about "this generation".
"It is your job as well," he said in thanking the jurors for doing their civic duty.
"It [parenting] is a 24/7 job," the judge said. ". . . But it is also your civic duty to help our young people."
However, the judge said that a part of the problem came because people did not care for each other.
"I hope you will go out there and try your best to curb some of the bad elements in society," Justice Worrell said.