Juvenile Recidivism in the United States - Essay Example

Summary of key findings Summary: The increasingly high rates of juvenile recidivism in the United s are the underlying factor that is the guiding force behind this study. Prison does not appear to be serving as a correctional and rehabilitative experience (Lewis et al, 1994); rather according to experts, young offenders appear to view prison as an opportunity to get free food and shelter before they are out on the streets again. The key finding in this study is that prison programs do not appear to be working or achieving success in terms of reducing recidivism in young offenders. Findings on juvenile crime: The examination of juvenile crime and procedures has hitherto focused on the flows of the justice processes and the psychology of minor criminals. This has shown that juveniles tend to reoffend within four years of their earlier offence and when the arrests were caused by drug issues, the likelihood of being arrested again increased up to 70%. Research has supported this finding of re-arrest among juveniles statistically, however the literature review above has pointed out that such data is mainly limited to first arrests through January 2005 and does not take into account the arrests for different offences occurring when the criminal was in custody. Research also shows that re-arrest rates vary in different boroughs and there is also a higher rate of juvenile offending among males as compared to females. Imprisoning young offenders in adult prisons also appears to be compounding the problem of juvenile recidivism. Juveniles are apprehended for serious crimes such as murder, aggravated assault, robbery and rape as well as less serious offences such as violation of drug laws, lewd acts or copulation (Reno et al, 2007). The rationale offered for commission of such crimes is their association with adult male prisoners. Since they are raped by adult criminals during their initial prison terms, these juveniles seek to wreak vengeance by committing sex crimes after their release from prison. Causes of juvenile recidivism: The Sentencing Guidelines Commission of Washington, in an annual report on recidivism suggests that juveniles experience pleasure while committing crimes, which is why they repeat them (www.sgc.wa.gov). A major part of juvenile criminal activity in centred within sexual acts such as rape, sodomy, etc, suggesting that the pleasure in the sexual act is the motivating factor. The comforts such as food and shelter offered at prisons also functions as an impediment to the deterrent value of the prisons, hence it may be necessary to consider improving the punitive atmosphere and beefing up the punitive aspect of existing prison programs. Other researchers have suggested that the lack of accountability in prisons may also be a factor contributing to the high recidivism rates (Fader, 2009). Introducing higher accountability may help to ensure that there is a focus on outcomes as opposed to processes. Reducing recidivism: Based upon the literature review above, it may be noted that the experience of incarceration as such does place individuals in a state where they are ready to accept positive changes. But prison fails to provide the necessary punitive atmosphere and it does not address the need to develop alternative skills in prison inmates, so that they are able to function effectively in the outside world when they leave prison (Ashker and Kenny, 2008). As a result, reduction of recidivism would depend to a great extent on the efficacy of prison programs. Researchers have suggested several means to improve the efficacy of prison programs. One of these is electronic monitoring of offenders at prison houses and psychiatric centres to regulate the activities of young offenders (Byer and Kuhn, 2007). Pilot studies have been conducted at five forensic psychiatric centres and four juvenile correctional institutions, and the data collected through these means proved to be useful in patient treatments. Other researchers have suggested that high risk juveniles must be identified, if prison programs are to succeed. This would help to identify the social and economic factors in the environment that lead to offending. Other experts are of the view that the efficacy of prison programs could be improved by providing better educational opportunities for youngsters and involving them in sports and church activities (de la Torre, 2007). Based upon the above findings, the major thrust of this study is to determine how prison programs could be improved, by carrying out a research survey among former inmates of juvenile prisons, to gain insight into their experiences of prison programs. Prison programs for young offenders are meant to address many things such as to determine cause of crime, consequences and how to control and stop the behavior completely. The necessary skills for solving problems, monitoring behavior and controlling aggression are helpful to individuals and peers; for them to set their goals and develop a means of achieving them through proper utilization of the time available to them. If the results of the programs are not seen, then there is a failure in the program. The programs usually work better if the people offering them believe that it is efficient, but if there is any doubt, in those who offer the program then typically it will fail. The programs should be delivered the way they are designed and meant to be delivered by the trained instructors so that they can be successful. If the current programs are not achieving their desired results then they must be either altered to achieve the wanted results or be eliminated. The goal of this research is just that. The review of current programs that are effective and improving upon them and eliminating those programs that are not successful as well as devising new programs that may fill in any gaps that are left in rehabilitating the youth of our society. Reintegrating offenders into society, preventing recidivism and accomplishing that within a reasonable budget are the ultimate goal of any prison program. If the programs for young offenders are successful then recidivism will drop as will the costs of incarceration since fewer individuals will commit offenses. References Ashkar, P. J. & Kenny, D. T. (2008). Views from the inside: Young offenders’ subjective experiences of incarceration, International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology, 52(5), 584-6. Byer, Joan L. & Kuhn, Jeffrey, A. 2007. “A model response to truancy prevention: The Louisville truancy court diversion project”, The Judges Journal, 46(3), 7-15. De La Torre, Adela (1997, June 18). Rescuing lives without hope: Smaller classes, sports programs, jobs, church involvement: These are possible solutions to juvenile crime. Los Angeles Times, pp.A7. Lewis D.O, Yeager C.A, Lovely R., Stein A. & Cobham-Porterreal, C.S. (1994). A clinical follow-up of delinquent males: ignored variables, unmet needs and the perpetuation of violence, Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 33: 518-28. Loeber, & Farrington, D. (1998). Serious and violent juvenile offenders, New York: Sage. Recidivism of Juvenile Offenders: Sentencing Guidelines Commission State of Washington. (May 2008) Quoted in http://www.sgc.wa.gov/PUBS/Recidivism/Juvenile_Recidivism_Report_FY05.pd f Fader, J. (2009). Juvenile Justice: A case for transparency and research based accountability, Changing Lives, Changing Minds, Retrieved March 4, 2009, http://cltlblog.wordpress.com/2009/02/25/juvenile-justice-a-case-for-transparency-and- research-based-accountability/ Gewirtz, Marian (2007). Recidivism among Juvenile Offenders in New York City. (Retrieved May 10, 2009, from http://www.cjareports.org/reports/jorecid0407.pdf) Reno, Janet, Marcus, Daniel, Leary, Mary Lou & Gist, Nancy E. (2000) Juveniles in Adult Prisons and Jails: A National Assessment. Bureau of Justice Assistance U.S. Department of Justice Office of Justice Programs 810 Seventh Street NW. Washington, DC 20531, October 2000 (Retrieved May 10, 2009, from http://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/bja/182503.pdf) Read More