Juvenile Probation Programs - Essay Example

Juvenile Probation Programs Provide a detailed of each program. List 2–3 goals, successes, and failures ofeach program. For one, Intensive Aftercare Program (IAP) which was developed by Dr.s Altschuler and Armstrong of California State University is adopted based on the theories of strain, social learning, and social control. The program is aimed at lowering recidivism of high-risk juvenile offenders. As it provides concentrated reintegration during incarceration and a highly structured gradual process of transition, IAP considers three overlapping phases of treatment – (1) pre-release and preparatory planning; (2) structured transition in which participation of both institutional and aftercare staff prior to and after release is involved; and (3) long-term follow-up for supervision and service delivery (Altschuler, D.M., et al., 1999). According to the chief components present in the IAP model, the program greatly aims at diminishing recidivism through intensive supervision and control measures, strengthening family and community relations with individualized case planning and reinforcing progress in the improvement of personal well-being by incentives and an enthusiastic case management utilizing resources within the community (Wiebush, McNulty, & Le, 2000). Failures however in meeting certain objectives of IAP result from implementation problems such as staffing vacancies, institutional crowding, and unstable program environments. Successful operation nevertheless takes into account the consistent adherence to the core characteristics of the model and that it is found to establish more strength for the institution in collaborating with the external support teams of aftercare and research. GROWTH, on the other hand, specifically provides intensive aftercare for high-risk female juvenile offenders. Managed by Boys and Girls Clubs of South Alabama, Inc. with the help of the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, this program makes use of Network Aftercare System (NAS), an IAP adaptation. Principal components are inclusive of female-specific life skills, adventure therapy, community service, academic education, and Functional Family Therapy. Female offenders are administered a one-year aftercare monitoring and supervision upon release from detention. GROWTH keeps up with the similar goal to reduce recidivism as well as pregnancy rates and to increase job placements for GROWTH participants and these are all part of the program's documented success. No significant failure has been evaluated to emerge during program implementation as GROWTH promotes additional services such as individual and group therapy, substance abuse treatment, and mentoring. Multidimensional Treatment Foster Care (MTFC) being another aid in a stage after probation, developed at the Oregon Social Learning Center, provides highly trained foster parents, intensive support from a clinical team, and a tightly structured program. Besides becoming less prone to slip back into old delinquent patterns of behavior, MTFC sets goal that ensures better peer associations and development of both academic and professional skills. The program gives sufficient focus on individualized treatment where behavior is monitored and recorded on a daily basis through contacting the foster parents via the telephone. No ample amount of data shows evidence of the program's shortcomings and as part of the program's success, MTFC participants experience fewer arrests, minimal involvement or interest in delinquent activities and lesser timeframe of incarceration. Facilitating males of ages 13 to 18 for whom the Maryland Department of Juvenile Services render committed obligations, Thomas O'Farrell Youth Center serves treatment concentrated on the development of positive social norms. Planning for aftercare begins at admission to residential treatment where youth spend an average of eight months. While in residential care, youths are assigned two caseworkers each and these persons are required to look after the minor's welfare in at least twelve days every month. Under this program, the importance of keeping the youth within a residence is emphasized to realize how valuable a shelter is with the family to constitute inspiration and stability of moral values. Besides this objective, academic goals are prioritized in the program services including support in school re-entry, vocational prepartion and support, crisis intervention, family counseling, transportation, and mentoring. Information regarding the ups and downs of Thomas O'Farrell Youth Center has not been issued in sufficient detail. What are some statistics on the effectiveness of these programs? Which types of juveniles seem to benefit most from these programs? While outcome evaluation to determine the effectiveness of IAP model in producing graduates who are certain not to be recidivistic remains incomplete, preliminary data for GROWTH subjects show promising results. Out of the thirty four girls and families participating in the program back in 2001, no new offenses had been committed and 97 percent had been observed cautious from the risks of getting pregnant. In addition, program graduates were found to have continued academic studies, discovered suitable jobs or growing concern for GED. In the same manner, a study comparing outcomes for seventy nine delinquent boys randomly assigned to MTFC and group or institutional care showed significantly better outcomes for MFTC youth. Two-year follow-up data on 76 percent of the sample showed that MFTC youth continued to fare better than those in the control group as measured by higher levels of legal employment, better relationships with parents, less participation in unprotected sex, and decreased use of drugs (Fisher & Chamberlain, 2000). For Thomas O'Farrell Youth Center, a design study prior and after program test presented that 55 percent of the fifty six program graduates obtained no further court referrals in the year following their release. The number of offenses committed also declined by 77 percent (Gies, 2001). The aforementioned programs are made applicable to a range of high-risk offenses so subjects under extreme cases of delinquency and crime can be covered. In particular, IAP would be beneficial to youth offenders who commit credit card fraud, robbery, auto theft, rape, drug abuse, and homicide (Classification). Equivalently, MFTC can be best applied to misbehaving youth who run away from home while GROWTH objectives are able to meet protection of young delinquent females from unsafe pre-marital sex, substance abuse, as well as unwanted pregnancy. Which program do you think would be most effective in treating and rehabilitating juvenile delinquents? Since there are juvenile probation programs that have adapted or are patterned after the components and goals of IAP then I suppose this would most effectively generate fruitful ends for the juvenile delinquents. With its capable tool on thoroughly assessing and classifying high-risk offenders and intensive individual case management, when carried out appropriately with diligence according to program design, there is a high chance that each youth offender builds on a greater degree of confidence that enables favorable change and progress in cognitive-behavioral aspect of development. The capacity of individualized case planning on which both institutional and aftercare personnel attend to the released subject eventually makes a resolute foundation for each treated juvenile toward a transforming attitude and overall change. With consideration to the youth's problems with families, peers, and other elements of society bearing direct influence upon the orientation of a young individual's well-being, IAP could possibly effect a rehabilitation that strikes the source or the exact roots of a problem to which the culpable act is mostly attributed. In this manner, follow-up on delinquency is dealt with not only on a personal but also on a contextual level. Provide some suggestions for how this program could be improved. Variations on implementation across IAP sites in California, Nevada, and Virginia indicate a program's shortfall due to inability to operate at the desired level of intensity because of competing priorities, program instability as affected by environmental factors, and overcrowding. Funds ought be allocated hence to improve treatment facilities and to expand with additional sites. Adequate compensation must also be sought to remedy staffing vacancies and motivate workers to properly execute their designated jobs in handling juvenile offenders at any stage of probation. IAP should consider other forms of enhancement as well such as therapeutic intervention by means of encouraging juvenile delinquents to seek their potentials through art demonstration. As a consequence, it gives these individuals the chance to figure any hidden artistic talents and to acquire creative thinking and sensible attitude of learning in the process. Endorsing art-related tasks to be undergone during and after court proceedings would thus help lower tendencies leading to misdeed as they allow offenders to find value in self-expression, creativity, and discipline through such constructive outlet. An improved subject prior to release would certainly exhibit an increased self-esteem and a more positive view of himself and life in general. Whenever possible, IAP can further serve better by investing on schematic mentoring network in which adult volunteers with relevant experience may educate the young offenders with wisdom gained from a transformed life. If incorporated in the program for a longer term with consistent endeavor by the volunteer, it is likely to raise the standards of the juvenile delinquent's coping and ability to identify and appreciate good values. Consequently, the latter may look up to the mentor as a role model to follow and by whom to be morally and spiritually guided in choosing to accomplish righteous pursuit instead. Moreover, IAP may augment the quality of its aftercare supervision by customizing follow-up tasks or services offered depending on a subject's specific needs. For males, it is especially relieving to be recognized in the field of sport or one that entitles them to engage with playing games they like so the program can make control adjustments by permitting physical education. Not only does it amply divert the youth's focus on the essence of the activity but such involvement soon enriches a healthy lifestyle that is emotionally and psychologically sound enough to get rid of the bad old habits of delinquency. References Wiebush, R.G., McNulty, B., & Le, T. (2000). Implementation of the Intensive Community- Based Aftercare Program. Juvenile Justice Bulletin. Washington, DC: Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention. Retrieved from http://www.ncjrs.org/pdffiles1/ojjdp/181464.pdf on April 7, 2011. Altschuler, D.M., Armstrong, T.L., & MacKenzie, D.L., (1999). Reintegration, Supervised Release, and Intensive Aftercare. Juvenile Justice Bulletin. Washington, DC: Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention. Fisher, P.A. & Chamberlain, P. (2000). Multidimensional Treatment Foster Care: A program for intensive parenting, family support, and skill building. Journal of Emotional and Behavioral Disorders, 8(3), 155-164. Gies, S.V., (2001). Aftercare Services. Juvenile Justice Practice Series. Washington, DC: Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention. Retrieved from http://www.ncjrs.org/html/ojjdp/201800/contents.html on April 7, 2011. “Classification of Juvenile Offenders”. Retrieved from http://www.brainmass.com/homework- help/law/children-law/171154on April 7, 2011. “Juvenile Probation and Court Services Department.” Retrieved from http://www.cookcountycourt.org/services/programs/juvenile/new.htmlon April 7, 2011. Read More