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Hope for Rehabilitation for Institutionalized Youth Offenders

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“You do the crime, you pay the time,” is a common phrase uttered throughout our society in regard to juvenile delinquency. It has been suggested that a punitive response to the problem of youth violence in America is an effective means of solving the issue of youth crime, and would also deter future offenders. As a result, the existence of rehabilitation strategies within the system available to offenders is under threat.

A harsh and punitive response to youth violence was, in part, brought about by a moral panic across America. Exaggerations by the media and political figures act as instigators of panic. Both the media and politicians promoted the concept of the super-predator youth. The media played its part by publishing or …show more content…

Many Americans believe it is not too late to assist in pulling these young men and women out of their criminal rut. But it must be shown that certain rehabilitative programs are worth the time, effort, and money needed to put them into play. In this regard, programs designed for the lowering of recidivism rates for already institutionalized offenders are especially important. Not only do effective rehabilitation programs help to ensure the offender a crime-free future, but they also benefit communities and neighborhoods in reducing recidivism rates. Despite the damper put on intervention programs by strict authoritarian responses to youth violence over the last few decades, today there is an increasing emphasis on rehabilitation in the juvenile justice system. The system recognizes that youths are different from adults in their capacity to commit crime, and also their ability to recover from a criminal past and become responsible and law-abiding. Using effective punishment that won’t forfeit life chances as adults is regarded as an effective policy.

Further investigation into the subject of intervention strategies would be valuable to individuals and society alike. Rallying support for such programs by teaching their value and benefits to all could be done by such investigations. This paper will explore the workings, benefits, and societal response to

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