Children that are born into poverty and less than desirable conditions are more times than not, destined to become involved in the juvenile justice system. This may be due the child’s destructive behaviors or for placement out of concern for the child’s safety and well-being. Neglect and abuse is more prevalent in disadvantaged environments and causes sometimes-irreversible emotional problems. For whatever reason the child enters the system, we know that it is not a place for youth to grow, be nurtured and become productive members of society.
Drugs are wreaking havoc in our low-income communities. They are taking the men out of the family equation and leaving women to raise children alone. With no financial or emotional support, welfare
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I once read somewhere that in South Africa during Apartheid in 1993, there were about 851 per 100,000 black males incarcerated, and in the United States there were about 4,919. Per 100,000. This is inconceivable because South Africa at that time was known to be a racist society, and America being the “Free World.” The problem of inequality doesn’t seem to be one that is going away anytime soon. Until changes are made in the way minorities are treated in this country the problem will fester and grow.
The only prevention approach that I feel will help to divert these pipeline children from the system is education. We have to put the emphasis back on educating our youth and keeping their minds busy. We need to make sure that after school programs are abundant and affordable if not free. It should be mandatory that children attend head start programs that prepare them for kindergarten, so that no child is truly left
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There in no reason why anyone in the United States of America should be homeless or hungry, yet many children go to bed hungry every night and many with no real place to call home. When a child unfortunately gets involved in the juvenile justice system for whatever reason, we need to make sure that rehabilitation is the main focus at getting that child back on track. We need to find out the root causes for the behaviors that brought him to this point and work diligently to try and change them. Incarceration with out treatment is merely storing bodies. If you don’t treat a problem it festers and becomes an even bigger problem. Delinquency must be handled so as to avoid the adult judicial system.
Children and young adults usually don’t have the mentality to seek and utilize rehabilitative programs because they usually don’t want to acknowledge or don’t even realize that they have issues to be treated. We as adults need to show these troubled youth that we care about them and their futures, as they will one day become the leaders of our
Placing a juvenile in a detention center early in the court process increases the risk that youths will be found to be delinquent and damage their prospects for future success. A majority of the youths that are placed in these facilities pose little or no threat to the public and essentially do not need to be there. This portion of the juvenile court process is detrimental to the future and mental aspects of a youth’s life. We desperately need to change the way that we handle the juvenile court system because we are only reinforcing the delinquent behavior that these youths have been exposed to. We need to focus on the rehabilitation and prevention efforts for these youths not the punishment aspect and until then (insert a better ending).
It has been one hundred years since the creation of the juvenile court in the United States. The court and the juvenile justice system has made some positive changes in the lives of millions of young people lives over the course or those years, within the last thirteen years there has been some daunting challenges in the system.
Over 1/3 of the 11,000 index crime arrests were juveniles under the age of 16.
Studies suggest that there is a divide between the government and public response to juvenile incarceration. Bullis & Yovas (2005) state that support is given to correctional facilities to house juvenile offenders as a form of punishment (as cited in Shannon, 2013, p. 17). Individuals who support this perspective are often more likely to support the construction of more prisons and stern penalties on crime based upon the presumptions that youthful offenders are aware of the consequences of their actions (Drakeford, 2002 as cited in Shannon, 2013, p. 17). On the other hand, opponents of this perspective believe that incarceration creates an opportunity to rehabilitate the offenders (Huffine, 2006 as cited in Shannon, 2013, p. 18). This perspective supports the purpose of juvenile detention centers as “preparatory in nature – that is, offering services focused on the development of skills needed to return successfully to mainstream
There is much debate over whether or not juveniles should ever be tried as adults. Juveniles are defined as children under the age of 18. In the past, juveniles have been tried in a separate juvenile court because of their age. However, trying juveniles as adults for violent crimes is a trend that is on the rise. Age is supposed to be a deterrent for placing those under 18 on trial and giving them stiffer punishments that are often reserved for adults. Many debate whether or not juveniles really should have less severe punishments or if trying some juveniles as adults will lower juvenile crime rates.
Juvenile institutions and programs have changed over time. There are also juvenile programs that necessarily do not punish juvenile’s delinquents but instead help modify their behavior to avoid recidivism. Certain treatments and methods regarding how to deal with these dangerous young offenders were fixed and improved to make these institutions and programs more effective in changing the lives of these young
In America we sometimes house juveniles and adults in the same prison system. In the state of Wisconsin in 2014, we have incarcerated 121 minors into the adult system. While incarcerating these juveniles in the prison system some may wonder how does it affect a juvenile, Also what problems do they face while in prison and lastly, how has their life change for better or worse after they are released back into society.
Juveniles committing crimes is not a new issued being introduced to society; actually, it has been an issue for centuries. However, the big question is, should juveniles be tried in adult courts? Before answering, take into consideration every possible scenario that could have led them to commit the crime. For instance, were they the leader in the act? Did they participate in the crime? Was the juvenile even aware of what was taking place? Were they peer pressured? Did they have any other choice at the time? There are so many other questions we could consider when making a decision here.
he juvenile justice system has to deal with juveniles committing violations against civil and criminal law in their community. When compare to the adult criminal justice system, they are more harsher to the offenders than the juvenile justice system. I believe the juvenile justice systems should be more like the adult criminal justice system to a certain extent. It all depends what kind of crime was committed and if the juvenile had the intention of committing the crime. Of course if it's not a serious crime, I think parens patriae could be great for juveniles in need of support. There has been many philosophical differences about juvenile offending, and the one many people fall on is the status they are living in. Whether they come from an
The juvenile system should never jump straight to giving a child jail time, especially prison; there should always be a try to get the child help, or counseling before taking a life changing for the worse route. Too many people end up in the criminal justice system that shouldn't. Once arrest once,a cycle of incarceration begins that os often skewed against the poor. Support alternatives the juvenile system should always try first is after school programs, mental health centers, drug and treatment rout. Programs that may cost in the short run, but will provide a healthier and safer community in the long
When thinking of reforming the juvenile justice system one has to think; what can we do to make this better for everyone involve? There are some programs that can be implemented when trying to make a change in the juvenile system. The main thing is getting parents or the guardian more involved in the child’s whereabouts. Secondly the community where the youth will have a place to go and have something more constructive to do to keep them out of trouble. Law enforcement can get involved in giving ride along and having visits to the local jails or prisons from the youth to talk to some of the inmates. Crime in life isn’t racist at all it has a no age limit, no certain gender and no social status for most of those whom decide to partake in a criminal activity. From the beginning juveniles have been an issue with law enforcement, the question has always arisen of whom will take control without cruel and unusual punishment and assist with the rehabilitation and prevention future crime actions.
The juvenile justice system is in place to ensure the protection of minors who are 18 years of age and younger. The juvenile justice system is where minors go to court who have committed criminal acts. A juvenile code is sanctioned through juvenile law. This code is overseen by the state law. The juvenile justice system uses rehabilitation as a goal in order to help these juveniles instead of simply punishing them for their crimes ("juvenile justice: an overview," 2015).
The juvenile justice system is similar to the criminal justice system. This system is where juveniles are processed, and may be arrested after referrals for juvenile delinquency. Juvenile justice is very different in every state and can be very similar as well because every system has limited jurisdiction and that most focus on the offenders and not their offenses. Therefore, there are 51 juvenile justice systems in the United States. The United States has the juvenile justice system because children are very different than adults – in that they can be better receptive for change and also being easier to rehabilitate. Moreover, the main goal of the juvenile justice system is rehabilitation (Juvenile Law Center). The juvenile justice system is made up of police, courts, corrections, probation and parole services, as well as community-based programs to name a few (book).
Finally, literature on the juvenile justice system often focuses on program implementation and effectiveness at addressing rehabilitation, as well as diversion techniques within the system (Greenwood, 2008). This review audits these problems in detail and establishes them within the bigger struggle in the juvenile justice system to rehabilitate youth offenders.
Children need to have a role model in their presence to advocate educational activities, community involvement, and avoiding contact with the law for bad behavior. As Baker states, “Delinquents are made, not born” (1991, Pg. 274). Possible noncriminal behaviors that may affect a juvenile to become delinquent include; child neglect and/ or abuse, termination of parental rights, foster home placements, those beyond parental control, interfamily assault and other criminal acts (Baker, 1991, Pg. 275). Parents must learn to teach family conflict intervention, management problems, favorable parental attitudes and involvement in problem behaviors. At an early age we learn to do what it thought, showed, and have the adult figure set the example in our lives. For example, helping with academic failure, avoid delinquent criminal peers, and guide away from drug use and crime. Adolescent problem behaviors start with the parents, then move into the community, and society must respond by providing alternative programs and institutions to help the problem.