This assignment states that the current juvenile system focuses on rehabilitation rather than punishing the juveniles. With that in mind, the assumption is that all juveniles can be rehabilitated. The question posed to me is my view on why or why not all juveniles can be rehabilitated? The Webster dictionary defines juvenile’s delinquency as, “A violation of the law or some type of antisocial behavior by a child or young person, and rehabilitation is, “To restore someone to good condition or health.
As a country, we should care about all of our citizens and work toward bettering them, because we are only as strong as our weakest link. When it concerns the issue of corrections it should not be a discussion of punishment or rehabilitation. Instead, it should be a balance of both that puts the spotlight on rehabilitating offenders that are capable and willing to change their lives for the better. Through rehabilitation a number of issues in the corrections field can be solved from mental health to overcrowding. More importantly, it allows offenders the chance to do and be better once released from prison. This paper analyzes what both rehabilitation and punishment are as well as how they play a part in corrections. It also discusses the current reasons that punishment as the dominant model of corrections is not as effective as rehabilitation. After explaining rehabilitation and punishment, then breaking down the issues with punishment, I will recommend a plan for balance. A plan that will lower incarceration rates and give offenders a second chance.
Juvenile delinquency is a relatively new phenomenon. For this reason, society’s reactions and solutions to the problem of delinquency are also modern developments. The United States developed the first youth court in 1899 and is now home to many new and formerly untested methods of juvenile rehabilitation and correction. One of many unique programs within the Juvenile Justice system, boot camps are institutions designed to keep delinquent juveniles out of traditional incarceration facilities and still provide a structured method of punishment and rehabilitation. Boot camps developed in the early 1990s and quickly proliferated throughout the nation. Specifically, they are “…short-term residential programs modeled after
Many juveniles who entered the juvenile justice system are victims themselves of parental mistreatment such as neglect, physical, and emotional abuse. Once children into the juvenile system and is labeled a juvenile similar to adults being labeled a felon. These young offenders are stigmatized as criminal with little distinction between adults and juvenile offenders entering the prison system for the first time. Bernstein (2014) paints a vivid picture of how incarcerated juveniles expose to a new set of challenges such as posttraumatic stress syndrome, curtailed education, gang affiliation, and a gladiator mentality. These challenges that can develop in juvenile facility has
Due to the increase of correctional populations that continue to exceed its’ capacity, correctional alternatives were created. Correctional alternatives were to alleviate both prison crowding and the threat to public safety posed by serious offenders (Flores, Holsinger, Latessa, Lowenkamp, & Makarios, 2010). Rehabilitation in the 1970s was a variable correctional goal however by the 1980s intermediate sanctions developed . Intermediate sanctions consist of house arrest, electronic monitoring, boot camps, day reporting centers, intensive supervision probation or parole, community service, fines, and curfews (Tonry, 1990). These sanctions offer community based punishments that focus on deterrence, incapacitation, and retribution (Tonry, 1990).
Examination of the macro sociological perspective of incarceration and completed educational programs will confirm or oppose if rehabilitation on inmates can make a difference and create a safer environment for society. Inmate human development and socialization are critical and an affair of importance. Although, inmates are placed in unpleasant conditions the well being of the human mind must be taken into consideration to be mended and preserved. The prison system is known to be dangerous and a degrading environment leading prisoners to become resentful, hostile, and feeling hopelessness. Therefore, inmates could commit more crimes out of anger causing more danger to society.
The book NewJack: Guarding Sing Sing by Ted Conover is an profound book to read it gave me a great glimpse of how the prison life really is and how you can put yourself in comparing how Hollywood movies or TV shows displays them. Conover discuss about the history of Sing Sing prison since 1826. It was an authentic and straight forward of how the prison life is especially for those who want to pursue as a correctional officers. It gave two perspectives one from the guards and the other by the inmates. It shows a psychological effects of violence between the guards and inmates within the cell walls also it gave the transformation life in training and life with inmates. What surprise me in the book it only took the recruiters seven weeks training camp during those week they had to “write the use of force, from penal law to “standard of inmates behavior”… there would be tests every Friday, on which we had to score 70 percent or better. We’d have two hours of physical performance test in out last week. We’d learn how to use batons and how to fight hand to hand in a course called Defensive Tactics. We’d have to qualify on a shooting range. Finally, we’d be exposed to tear gas and learn how to fire gas guns (p.23).” The training camp was very similar to a military boot camp. After the seven weeks of training they all went straight to prison work during prison they had to deal with the hardship, stress and chaos surrounding the job of officers and what they go through during
The two mandated goals of the program are: to treat and release State prisoners earlier that their court-mandated minimum incarceration period without placing the public’s safety in jeopardy and to decrease the need for prison bed space (Clark et al., 1994). The program advocates building character, instilling responsibility, and promoting a positive self-image so that non-violent offenders transition back to society as productive members (Clark et al., 1994). New York’s Shock Incarceration program consists of two six month phases with the first phase focusing on a positive environment that supports successful transitioning back into society and in phase two offenders or graduates are under intense supervision within the community (Clark et al.,
The goals of juvenile corrections are too deter, rehabilitate and reintegrate, prevent, punish and reattribute, as well as isolate and control youth offenders and offenses. Each different goal comes with its own challenges. The goal of deterrence has its limits; because rules and former sanctions, as well anti-criminal modeling and reinforcement are met with young rebellious minds. Traditional counseling and diversion which are integral aspects of community corrections can sometimes be ineffective, and studies have shown that sometimes a natural self intervention can take place as the youth grows older; resulting in the youth outgrowing delinquency.
To ease the transition for service members from a military career back to the civilian sector the military has taken accountability of connecting service members to the necessary services and resources. Therefore, the Criminal Justice system should follow the role of the military and take the lead of restoring its inmates to be productive members of society. The prison administration does an excellent job of breaking down people who have placed in coercive organizations as a form of punishment. However, punishment is only a portion of the process. Prisons must also rehabilitate and reform its inmates, which should include reentry programs. Community based reentry programs should only be used to supplement the Criminal Justice system to monitor
Currently to deal with juvenile offenders involved in the youth crime, there are two options available. The first option that prevails to a larger extent is known to us as incarceration while the second option that is slowly gaining trends is known to us as rehabilitation programs. This paper focuses on thorough analysis of both these options and the impact that they have on the offenders as well as the society as a whole. The paper also assesses the viability of these options in order to determine which of these will prove to be more effective and beneficial.
Although there are various alternative sentencing methods used by the Justice system to punish an offender for the crime committed I would like to talk about one in particular prison boot camps. Boot camps are not as popular as they have been in the past. “Correctional boot camps otherwise known as shock or intensive incarceration programs are short-term residential programs that resemble military basic training and target convicted adult offenders. The camps are designed to reduce recidivism and encourage the offenders to take a new approach to life.
The purpose then is to keep soldiers acting as soldiers so the correctional philosophy in the military has evolved in such a way to do just that. In discussing the UCMJ and corrections, the following topics are significant.
Juvenile correctional methods are a key source when it comes to helping treat the juveniles that are in need of help while they are in a correctional facility. These methods can be a different yet rewarding to the juveniles that are wanting to better themselves. Such methods are single sex facilities as well as coed facilities. The importance of single-sex programing is reflected in the debate among juvenile justice experts and practitioners concerning the advantages and disadvantages of coed verses single-sexed juvenile correctional facilities (Ruddell & Thomas, 2009, pg. 150). During the research it is known that there are positive and negative aspects of both that need to be compared as well as contrasted against one another in order to find the balance of both and analyzing them by economic issues, preparation for the outside world, programmatic resources, and cohesion by focusing on the major points within the subjects. In analyzing both single-sex & coed facilities the perspective of scripture will not only help support the major points, but it will bring more life in a more Godly perspective.
Boot camps have been a controversial topic since there creation for adults in 1983 ( Gover 2000). The term boot camp is widely used however it contains many different aspects depending on its primary focus. Boot camps are programs based off of basic training in the military ( Mackenzie, Wilson, and Kinder 2001). With the main goal of correctional boot camps being, deterrence, rehabilitation, incapacitation, punishment, and cost control (Peter, Thomas, and Zamberlan 1997). The primary goal of boot camps when they were first created was to reduce overcrowding in prisons and encourage inmates to contribute positively to society (Perez 71). There are many different types of boot camps such as: substance abuse, educational, job training, as well as life counseling which are then separated into juveniles and adults boot camps. Although the main focus of many programs are the same each individual program widely differs from one another . The amount of time inmates spend in boot camp differs widely as well as the activities they preform and the amount of aftercare that is provided (Peter, Thomas, and Zamberlan 1997).