Criminal Justice - Issues in the CJA - Essay Example

Children lack access to basic resources such as adequate food, basic health care, safe shelter, and sufficient education to make them economically independent adults. Also, children whose parents engage in crime and those who are neglected or constantly abused tend to become delinquents in comparison to other children.

Another issue is youth violence. The widespread fear of crime in urban areas comes as a result of juvenile violence. Statistics show that between the period 2005 to 2010 victimization rate, arrest rate, murder rates, and homicides committed by juveniles between the ages of 15 to 16 shot up by more than 100 percent (Larry, 2006). The cause for this is the increased involvement of youth especially African Americans in the drug trade. Since they cannot solicit police protection, the youths acquire guns for protecting themselves and their valuable merchandise. The youth network through schools saw a proliferation of guns throughout a majority of the youth community. Other than acquiring a gun for self-defense, this habit also became a symbol of status.

Finally, the issue of deterrence as mitigation to the fore stated problems is of paramount importance to CJA. Though deterrence works effectively among citizens with responsibilities, it is insufficient in instilling discipline in impulsive, unsocialized, and senselessly destructive people.

Question 2: Prioritize these issues about the importance and justify your prioritization.
The issues can be ranked in order of importance for several reasons, i.e. Deterrence, juvenile delinquency, and youth violence. If administrators and public policymakers were to take the step of bringing parents into accountability then juvenile delinquency and youth violence would be issues of secondary importance to the CJA system (David, 2006). Incompetent, rejecting parents who do not supervise their children and those who are abusive are to blame for the antisocial behavior displayed by their children. Other risk factors for juvenile delinquency include drug abuse, parental criminality, deficient discipline, lack of education, and prenatal deficiency.

The age at which a minor engages in crime determines for how long he or she will continue doing it. If the child starts committing crimes at a very young age, chances are that the delinquency will go on and will worsen as time goes by. Deterring parents from neglecting or abusing their children at the earliest possible opportunity will put up a lasting effect.


Question 3: What effects are these issues having on the criminal justice profession?
The criminal justice profession faces the risk of irreparable breach of contract as a result of increased public anxiety arising from violence perpetrated by juveniles. The only lasting solution to reduce criminality and delinquency is to deter any activity or intention that could undermine the family unit and early childhood (Andrew, 2003). The stakeholders in the criminal justice profession have an uphill task of implementing policies with a direct impact on the upbringing of children. Read More