Punishing Children and Young Offenders - Essay Example

The Lack of Suitable Rehabilitation for Young Offenders Introduction Rehabilitation aims at changing the behavior of offenders and assisting them to avoid re-offending. Intervention measures for young offenders, when designed and delivered sufficiently, are effective in minimizing repeated offending cases. Therefore, suitable rehabilitation for juvenile offenders is key to solving the problem of recidivism. Strategies for a successful rehabilitation and prevention of delinquency among juveniles need to address the factors that prompt them to commit crimes. There is a need for a suitable rehabilitation for such young individuals before integrating them into the society to be law-abiding. Lack of material, social and psychological support at the time of release, make it difficult for juvenile offenders to break the cycle of re-arrest and release. Extended and short-terms in a correctional facility provide limited chance for interventions and treatment to avert future recidivism. Community safety makes it crucial that communities, as well as governments, must develop effective interventions, which rehabilitate juveniles successfully. It is critical to developing interventions designed to achieve suitable rehabilitation for young offenders and that lower rates of re-offending. Theories of Juvenile Offending The social control theory highlights that a strong attachment of young persons to their families help in controlling and discouraging offending cases among them. Failed family attachment coupled with parental abuse increases the vulnerability of the young individuals to offending (Rees-Jones et al., 2012). Second, social learning theory stresses that the delinquency among juveniles occurs through a learned phenomenon that encompass imitation, modelling as well as reinforcement. Therefore, the juveniles learn and adopt the behaviour patterns that their abusers display. In addition, the theory points that the incidence of reoffending can escalate especially if the rehabilitation system does not sufficiently deal with the underlying causes of such juvenile offences. The social-psychological strain theory highlights that negative treatment generate backward emotions including frustration, anger and resentment. Therefore, juveniles are likely to offend especially if they had negative treatment in the past. Challenges Confronting Juvenile Delinquents Juvenile delinquents confined in rehabilitation centers are faced with a number of personal, economic and social challenges, which tend to become obstacles to a lifestyle that is free from crime. Most of the challenges are consequences of experiences that the offender had, whereas some have connection to the result of incarceration and difficulty in making transition back to the community (Cheesman II and Waters, 2010). A suitable rehabilitation system must evaluate the history of juvenile offenders, which is necessary to assist them from re-offending. Some juvenile delinquents may have a history of marginalization and social isolation, and abuses that are either emotional or physical. Other young offenders may have a physical challenge or mental disabilities as well as certain health issues linked to drug addiction and substance abuse (Cin-Ying Yip et al., 2013). In addition, societal changes including competition within the rehabilitation facilities may render such rehabilitation unsuitable if in case the juvenile offenders face challenges of skills deficits. A suitable rehabilitation system must equip young offenders with the vital skills that enable them interact effectively with other individuals upon reintegration into the society. Juvenile delinquents may lack these vital skills in an unsuitable rehabilitation. Young offenders also face practical challenges including lack of suitable accommodation, difficulties in accessing necessities and other services for their needs (Fougere et al., 2012). The period of transition from the community into rehabilitation facilities can be challenging and contribute to stress among juvenile offenders. Therefore, a suitable rehabilitation must ensure that the offenders have supervisors, who help them acclimatize to their new home. The loss of personal contact with the family and other important personal relationship put juvenile offenders at the risk of not benefiting from such programs especially in an unsuitable rehabilitation system. Risk Factors and Changes within Society The fundamental necessities that a suitable rehabilitation system must address include accommodation, mental health, employment, social networks, drugs and alcohol, attitudes, cognitive skills. The aforementioned risk factors are dynamic and may change accordingly to changes that occur within a society. A suitable rehabilitation system must identify the ways that reduce the risk factors among the youth, which consequently assist in reducing re-offending cases (Lee, 2009). Intervention methods that reduce risk factors include family literacy, pre-school education, parenting information and support, organizational change in schools, reasoning and social skills education as well as reading schemes. Treatment programs aimed at reducing the risk factors differ in their efficacy and most of them are not effective (Gutierrez et al., 2013). Interventions methods can fail to accomplish their primary objectives since not all juvenile delinquents are immediately cooperative to treatment. Family Family is the main setting for intervention with juvenile offenders because it is where a number of risk factors originate. Changes within the family contributed by factors such as witnessing family violence, neglect and abusive or harsh physical punishment on children make them vulnerable to offend (Klein et al., 2012). Assisting families to address the aforementioned factors adequately is essential to achieving a suitable rehabilitation. Consequently, families can help their young children to avoid offending. Family actions significantly determine the outcome among youths. Young individuals are vulnerable to offending if they experience reduced levels of support from their parents. Parents must give their children adequate support that they may need. Lack of affection between young individuals and their parents can make them feel neglected and, hence, vulnerable to offending (Fourchard, 2011). Young people and children can form associations with their antisocial peers. Therefore, parents need to supervise and monitor every activity, which their children engage in. In addition, some antisocial behavior among parent including violence, substance abuse and criminal activity put their children at a significant risk of committing an offence. A suitable rehabilitation system seeks to find positive ways of helping diverse families in changing their behaviors, which consequently reduce offending cases among children (Soeker et al., 2013). Effective interventions invite such families and instruct them to participate in the process and effectively teach young individuals. A comprehensive rehabilitation system encourages parents to reward good behaviour among their kids. For increased risk among young people, supporting and training their parents is critical to helping them avoid offending. In addition, parenting skills are useful in the treatment and diagnosis of major risk factors including school failure, drug involvement, abuse at home and antisocial peers (Young et al., 2011). If rehabilitation centres involve families in the program, juvenile offenders are more likely to take part in and stay involved in any intervention aimed at assisting them from offending. It is difficult for communities to replicate the emotional sustenance that families provide. Therefore, rehabilitation of juvenile offenders help their families to address the issues affecting them rather than attempt to fill the vacuum with assistance from the state (Harrison, 2010). However, families that are poor face a number of problems, since poverty propagate participation of juveniles in crime. Poverty interrupts the process of parenting and hence, renders juveniles more vulnerable to delinquent peer influence. Rehabilitation of young offenders must allow participation of the families of the offenders, and early intervention is critical for effective reintegration. The duration of one to five years is critical in the development of any child and interventions at this time are most effective (Gardner, 2013). Handicapped children by disorders including severe conduct disorder and foetal alcohol syndrome can benefit from early interventions. For instance, young individuals suffering from severe conduct disorder usually begin their life hurting other kids and misbehaving. They then progress to alcohol abuse and finally graduate to a life full of crime, domestic violence and drugs (Zernova, 2009). A number of such young individuals are the most difficult to deal with, and a comprehensive system is necessary to rehabilitate them. Therefore, they need intervention by expert therapist; however, they often do not get proper rehabilitation, which is the most case with an unsuitable rehabilitation system. Lack of Suitable Accommodation for Juvenile Offenders It is imperative to provide sustainable and suitable accommodation for young offenders or juveniles who are at greater risk of offending. Sustainable and suitable accommodation serves as a social inclusion, hence reducing chances of reoffending among juveniles. A study conducted by Ellis et al. (2009) indicate that stable and suitable accommodation in the life of a young person help to reduce cases of reoffending. Lack of stable and proper accommodation present a number of challenges for juveniles who offend purposely to benefit from or engage in programs, which are crucial to achieving an effective rehabilitation. Among such programs, include training, education, and employment (Woodall et al., 2013). They may also offend to benefit from services that address substance abuse, as well as interventions addressing offending behaviours. A suitable rehabilitation needs to have proper and spacious structures that house young offenders. In addition, limited accommodation prompts transfers of young offenders to other institutions with better accommodation (Rees-Jones et al., 2012). The implication of this is that it breaks the already established relationship between the offender and his or her supervisor. Consequently, the offender finds it hard to cope with the new environment and may engage in ill activities, thus, re-offending. Therefore, a suitable rehabilitation must transfer the offenders together with their supervisors to the new institutions for juvenile offenders. Lack of Support Juvenile delinquents need considerable levels of support while in the rehabilitation centre. Such support is fundamental in many areas including life skills, budgeting, and addressing issues of mental health and substance misuse (Klein et al., 2012). If the assessed level of support needed lacks then break down in accommodation is inevitable, thereby leaving young individuals homeless and at a greater risk of reoffending. Additionally, most of the housing providers are unwilling to accept any referrals for juveniles that have a history of offending, unless there is provision of sufficient support package. Little funding of the rehabilitation centres results into gaps in provision (Gardner, 2013). Local authorities play imperative roles in ensuring that rehabilitation centres have the necessary local support services that assist the vulnerable individuals. Therefore, local authorities need to work in partnership with the service providers into ensuring that such juvenile offenders have proper accommodation. Consequently, cases of juvenile offending can reduce significantly. Programs Designed to Provide Assistance and Support Mentally Ill Offenders Juvenile delinquents afflicted by mental illness face challenges after release into the society. Key among the challenges that such offenders face include social isolation, which put them at increased risk for co-occurring substance abuse disorder (Harrison, 2010). In addition, juvenile delinquents may encounter challenges especially in finding sustainable and suitable accommodation as well as securing employment for the youths. There is a probability that the delinquents will need further therapeutic and medical services. Additionally, the juvenile offenders may need financial assistance. The aforementioned factors in conjunction with any noncompliance of treatment disorder increase susceptibility of the young individuals to offending. Unique challenges encountered by young offenders upon release calls for the development of a treatment, which is community-based. A community-based model addresses a number of problems that help reduce the risk of reoffending (Young et al., 2011). In addition, such model lower the risk to the public, for the young offenders as well as reducing subsequent rehabilitation system that the young individuals, who offend engage in. Continued care form an essential component of effective treatment of mental health problems for juvenile offenders. Employment Assistance for the Youths Most people believe that employment help in reducing offending cases among young individuals; however, this belief is unclear. Moreover, it is hard to establish a relationship between reoffending and youth employment. Zernova (2009) argues that obtaining a good job can be a factor in the reduction of youth reoffending rather the employment itself. Additionally, the link between reduced recidivism and legal employment are primarily influenced by diverse factors. Such factors include employment-related qualifications, sustainable accommodation, lack of problems of substance abuse and being active in asking for assistance with the job searches. Conducted research indicates that it is crucial to match the specific services that youth offenders may need (Gutierrez et al., 2013). Key among the vital employment interventions includes vocational education, readiness classes, job placement, job training and monitoring by the case manager. Empirical findings; however, show reduced cases of reoffending among youths who participate in employment service interventions. In a suitable rehabilitation system, it is necessary that the services provide continued assistance for the young offenders right from the time that they enter into the rehabilitation facilities (Fougere et al., 2012). Vocational assessment need to happen at early stages of the offender’s sentence and should direct the future services related to employment. Conclusion A suitable rehabilitation for young offenders focuses on reintegrating the juvenile delinquents in the community and subsequently reducing cases of recidivism. In achieving a suitable rehabilitation system, the strategies for providing help to such young individuals must be workable. Key among strategies that may result into a successful rehabilitation process include finding for sustainable and suitable accommodation, addressing challenges with family, as well as substance abuse. Therefore, suitable rehabilitation for juvenile offenders is critical to solving the problem of recidivism. Changes within the society, community and family impact rehabilitation process in many ways. Most young offenders have mental health problems and are vulnerable to re-offending if there is no proper rehabilitation system. Changes in society including limited accommodation in places of rehabilitation lessens the effort made in rehabilitating juvenile offenders. Family conflicts negatively impact the gains made in rehabilitating young offenders. Rehabilitated individuals are likely to engage in ill activities if their families have conflicts. Therefore, a suitable rehabilitation requires elimination of family conflicts. Upon release, young offenders usually fail to continue with their education programs since they do not find courses that suit them. Schools also find it hard to accept ex-offenders. Therefore, the local authorities need to ensure that agencies work in unison to deliver mainstream education, social services, as well as proper accommodation for young offenders. Bibliography Cheesman II, F.L., Waters, N.L., 2010. Who Gets a Second Chance? An Investigation of Ohio’s Blended Juvenile Sentence1. J. Health Hum. Serv. Adm. 33, 406–450. Cin-Ying Yip, V., Gudjonsson, G.H., Perkins, D., Doidge, A., Hopkin, G., Young, S., 2013. A non-randomised controlled trial of the R&R2MHP cognitive skills program in high risk male offenders with severe mental illness. BMC Psychiatry 13, 387–408. doi:10.1186/1471-244X-13-267 Ellis, T., Pamment, N., Lewis, C., 2009. Public protection in youth justice? The Intensive Supervision and Surveillance Programme from the inside. Int. J. Police Sci. Manag. 11, 393–413. doi:10.1350/ijps.2009.11.4.149 Fougere, A., Daffern, M., Thomas, S., 2012. Toward an empirical conceptualisation of resilience in young adult offenders. J. Forensic Psychiatry Psychol. 23, 706–721. doi:10.1080/14789949.2012.719536 Fourchard, L., 2011. The Limits of Penal Reform: Punishing Children and Young Offenders in South Africa and Nigeria (1930s to 1960). J. South. Afr. Stud. 37, 517–534. doi:10.1080/03057070.2011.602891 Gardner, M.R., 2013. The Categorical Distinction between Adolescents and Adults: The Supreme Court’s Juvenile Punishment Cases-Constitutional Implications for Regulating Teenage Sexual Activity. BYU J. Public Law 28, 1–70. Gutierrez, L., Wilson, H.A., Rugge, T., Bonta, J., 2013. The Prediction of Recidivism with Aboriginal Offenders: A Theoretically Informed Meta-Analysis1. Can. J. Criminol. Crim. Justice 55, 55–99. Harrison, K., 2010. Dangerous offenders, indeterminate sentencing, and the rehabilitation revolution. J. Soc. Welf. Fam. Law 32, 423–433. doi:10.1080/09649069.2010.539915 Klein, V., Yoon, D., Briken, P., Turner, D., Spehr, A., Rettenberger, M., 2012. Assessment of Accused Juvenile Sex Offenders in Germany: A Comparison of Five Different Measures. Behav. Sci. Law 30, 181–195. doi:10.1002/bsl.2006 Lee, F., 2009. Adopting a restorative approach to young offenders in Hong Kong: a public survey. Contemp. Justice Rev. 12, 469–483. doi:10.1080/10282580903343191 Rees-Jones, A., Gudjonsson, G., Young, S., 2012. A multi-site controlled trial of a cognitive skills program for mentally disordered offenders. BMC Psychiatry 12, 44–54. doi:10.1186/1471-244X-12-44 Soeker, M.S., Carriem, F., Hendricks, M., Joynt, T., Naidoo, N., 2013. Breaking into the world of employment: The vocational experience of South African male ex-offenders. Work 44, 201–211. Woodall, J., Dixey, R., South, J., 2013. Prisoners’ perspectives on the transition from the prison to the community: implications for settings-based health promotion. Crit. Public Health 23, 188–200. doi:10.1080/09581596.2012.732219 Young, S.J., Adamou, M., Bolea, B., Gudjonsson, G., Müller, U., Pitts, M., Thome, J., Asherson, P., 2011. The identification and management of ADHD offenders within the criminal justice system: a consensus statement from the UK Adult ADHD Network and criminal justice agencies. BMC Psychiatry 11, 32–45. doi:10.1186/1471-244X-11-32 Zernova, M., 2009. Integrating the restorative and rehabilitative models: lessons from one family group conferencing project. Contemp. Justice Rev. 12, 59–75. doi:10.1080/10282580802681758 Read More