Juvenile Justice And Delinquency Prevention

Evidence-based studies imply that youth of color are being placed in detention at a higher rate all throughout juvenile justice system not only in Kentucky but, nationwide. Disproportionate minority contact (DMC) in juvenile justice alludes to youth of color being place into the system at a greater rate than their Caucasian counterparts. All races break the law at about the same rate; however, youth of color are arrested, charged and institutionalized at a higher percentage than Caucasians for similar offenses. African-Americans made up 16 percent of all youth in the United States, but constituted 28 percent of youth arrests, 30 percent of referrals to juvenile court, 37 percent of detained youth, 34 percent of youth formally processed by juvenile court, 30 percent of youth adjudicated delinquent, 35 percent of youth judicially waived to criminal court, 38 percent of youth in residential placement, and 58 percent of youth sent to state adult prisons. (Grieshop et al 2009)

Juvenile Delinquency has increased throughout the years. In 2008 the United States police arrested about 2.11 million juveniles. Juvenile arrest rates had increased in 2005 and again in 2006. Data show increases in some offense categories but declines in most. Most changes being less than 10% in either direction. According to the data arson at 47% is one of the biggest crimes that juveniles commit. Following are robbery at 27%, burglary at 27%, and property crimes at 26%. Juveniles are creating more problems for parents, schools, and communities. In 2007 juvenile courts dealt with a large amount of juvenile delinquents. About 4,600 cases per day were being treated at the courts (Puzzanchera, Charles).

How would you feel if the police arrested kids all over our country to jail for just crossing the street the wrong way or pushing another kid on the playground? That is what is happening to many underage juvenile all over the United States; they are being sent to adult prisons for crimes that do not deserve such severe punishments. Why they were tried as adults is an enigma and we will explain why this is a terrible injustice. In 1899 children in between the ages of 7-14 were believed they were incapable of committing criminal intent. The court system back then believed that if enough evidence could be gathered to convince a jury, the underage person would be convicted and sent to an adult prison. Currently in our state, persons as

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

The subject of race is one that has come up countless times when discussing or reading about the juvenile justice system. According to Jennifer Peck and Wesley Jennings article “race differences in court outcomes to the disadvantage of Black youth…” (Peck & Jennings, 2016). Youths that are Black or Latino are more likely to be punished more harshly than white youths who have committed

Most of the minority juvenile offenders are more likely to be transferred to adult court than white offenders even though the same crime was committed. This increases the

It has been proven across this country that the ratio of minorities to whites in jails and prisons is overwhelming. In 2010, African-American males were 6 times more likely than white males to be in jails and prisons as there were 678 white male inmates per 100,000 and 4,347 black male males per 100,000 locked away (Drake, 2013). This is up from 1960, when black males were 5 times more likely to be incarcerated (Drake, 2013). The ratio in the juvenile criminal justice system is not any better as in 2011, “African-American youths were 160% more likely to have been referred to juvenile court for a delinquent offense, 13% more likely to have been petitioned for formal case processing, 8% less likely to have been adjudicated, and 11% more likely to have had their petitioned cases waived to the adult system for criminal prosecution” (Howell & Hutto, 2012). These high ratios have caused a blame game across this country.

In America minorities have been over represented as offenders in the criminal justice system for years. DMC that is prevalent in the criminal justice and juvenile justice system is one that was discovered and has been discussed for decades. In 1988, over 20 years ago, the NCSJJAG reported that, “…disparate juvenile and criminal justice rates for minorities are not a new phenomenon.” (NCSJJAG, 1998), and unfortunately this phenomena still exists. In 2010, African Americans comprised 17% of all juveniles, but 31% of all arrests in America,” (Puzzanchera, 2013), and the disparities are also quite apparent in the Latinos. When one compares the rates of racial disparities to the rates of overall juvenile crime rates, the racial disparity rates have remained steady

Minority youth are disproportionately represented throughout juvenile justice systems in nearly every state in the nation. Disproportionate minority contact (DMC) in juvenile justice occurs when minority youth come into contact with the system at a higher rate than their white counterparts. African-Americans, Hispanics, Asians, Pacific Islanders and Native Americans comprise a combined one-third of the nation's youth population. Yet they account for over two-thirds of the youth in secure juvenile facilities (Armour & Hammond, 2009).

Juvenile delinquency has become a controversial issue within the Criminal Justice system. In the United States, juvenile delinquency refers to disruptive and criminal behavior committed by an individual under the age of 18. In many states, a minor at the age of 16 to 17 ½ can be tried as an adult. Once the individual reaches adulthood, the disruptive and criminal behavior is recognized as a crime. However, the criminal justice system has divided juvenile delinquency into two general types of categories that has brought upon controversial issues of inequality and corruption. Yet, putting young individuals in juvenile detentions facilities seems to open the door for them to commit more crimes in the future. Therefore, under certain circumstances juveniles should be tried as an adult.

The United States leads the world in the incarceration of young people, there are over 100,000 youth placed in jail each year. Locking up youth has shown very little positive impact on reducing crime. Incarcerating youth have posed greater problems such as expenses, limited education, lack of employment, and effect on juveniles’ mental and physical well-being.

Across the United States, the juvenile justice system’s courts and corrections are scattered with ineffective strategies that are formed which instead increases crime, the nation’s youth are endangered and the future of this country are damaged, billions of taxpayer dollars are put down the drain, and most importantly our mission for equal justice under the law is compromised. Over the past couple of decades, our understanding of how to take on delinquency has expanded in many different forms such as its policy work. But how effective are these works? Amongst all kinds of policy that affect exposed families and their children, Juvenile Justice is atop the list, suffering division in regards to what is the best form of action versus common action. In other words it is between what we as people know works and what the system most often do that aren’t as successful. Our system relies heavily on incarceration and detention, we should instead focus our resources into proven strategies that are cost efficient, increase our public safety, and also look to increase the success of youth that become involved with the juvenile courts. Immediate attention should be enforced and required in combating abuse in juvenile facilities as well as reducing racial disparities.

Killers, rapists, and other criminals are being released every day, after serving a very short, or easy sentence. Who are these criminals, and what is the reasoning for this type of treatment? These criminals are juveniles who have committed violent crimes. On a daily basis in the juvenile justice system, kids are being tried and being given short sentences, or are even being set free with a penalty as minor as house arrest. Meanwhile, their victims and the victims families, are left to suffer because of the decision of a kid. The belief that a second chance should be given to a youth who commits crimes, is why criminals are walking among us, living as our neighbors, and in many most cases committing additional crimes. Despite the fact that since 1994, the arrest rates for juveniles have plummeted by forty-seven percent, criminal statistics for children of seventeen and below are still extremely high. Juvenile crime statistics report that every year, juvenile courts in the U.S. handle an estimated 1.7 million cases, in which the youth was charged with a delinquency offense, or in other words, approximately 4,600 delinquency cases per day. The major issue with the amount of crime, when it comes to juveniles, has not been dealt with the way that it should be; with further actions being taken, and an increase in strictness in sentences.

When I began my job 10 years ago, I had no idea that so many or our youth were incarcerated. According to Campaign for Youth Justice; Key Facts: Youth in the Juvenile System (2012), every year juvenile courts in the U.S. handle and estimated 1.7 million cases in which a youth has been charged with a delinquency

Juvenile offending is a concern in society today. Juveniles account for approximately 19% of the population but are responsible for 29% of criminal arrests (Cottle, Lee, & Heilbrun, 2001). Crime overall has been found to be decreasing throughout the last two decades. The issue is that the rate in which adult crime is decreasing is significantly greater than the rate in which juvenile crime is decreasing. Since the rate of juvenile crime is so high, juvenile delinquents are seen as predators and many believe they lack morals. The way in which media of today’s society constructs juvenile delinquency impacts the views of a community towards their youth and youth offenders. Media presents an inaccurate image of youth offenders as violent predators (Rhineberger-Dunn, 2013). This inaccurate image significantly promotes the myths that juvenile crime is rising, juveniles commit crimes that are primarily violent, and that juveniles are highly effected by recidivism and continue committing crimes into adulthood (Bohm, & Walker, 2013). It has already been stated though that crime rates have been decreasing over the last two decades so the first myth is refuted. The myth that juveniles primarily commit violent crimes is also very off. In most cases, juveniles are involved in property crimes and although there are some violent crime cases, they are very rare. When these rare violent crimes do occur, youth can be tried in adult court. The