The Effectiveness of Juvenile Justice Programs - Research Paper Example

The Effectiveness of Juvenile Justice Programs Abstract In about a hundred years ago, it became apparent clear those persons under the age of eighteen years were not yet adults to be subjected to the common criminal justice system that adults undergo through. It was clear that though being on the offensive side, these youngsters were not favored by the common system hence the need to set up a trial and justice system under which the minors were to be corrected. However, many changes to the initial system as it were have taken place. Improvements have been advocated for by different stakeholders who reason that the generational changes necessitate it. This paper therefore intends to study the perceptions of psychologists towards youths and the juvenile system. Rationale/Thesis There is a common perception from among practicing psychologists that “due to laws protecting youth, juvenile justice programs are not affective to youth”. In the pursuit to fully understand the claim, I have sought to study the claim and by analyzing the past studies and literature concerning the topic, make conclusions that will substantive. Justification After analyzing written literature, especially on researches that have been made in this field, there arises a gap that needs verification. Studies in the past has concentrated more on the performance of the system as a whole and neglected the fact that the “juveniles” comprise of varying age sets. The broad understanding of juveniles has been generally to imply the young who are under eighteen years and who are under direct care of their parents and guardians. In most cases, parents become answerable to everything that pertain them. However, in the recognition that even young adults (youths) are placed in this category; there is the need to clearly understand where they are placed in this. More so because we are aware that other laws have been set in favor of the youths. Therefore, the effectiveness of the juvenile, as I would claim, gets compromised by the application of such laws. Moreover, different systems of education and counseling psychology have to a larger extent invaded the working of juvenile justice system. Objectives To evaluate the overall performance of the juvenile justice system; to the teens and to the youths. To formulate policy recommendations for the sector and propose future research study areas in the field. Add to the already existing knowledge about the field from the previously conducted research studies. Questions 1. To what extent is the juvenile justice system effective to the youths? 2. How are juvenile laws formulated, and what are the implications for counselling and education as regards juvenile justice system? 3. What role do parents and guardians play in the overall success of the system of reforming their children especially the youth? 4. What are other avenues of trying and reforming juveniles in a country? Literature review Huizinga, Schumann, Ehret and Elliott undertook a study in Colorado and Germany pertaining to the differences that exist between juvenile justice systems in the two states. They analyzed the characteristic features that defined the justice systems in the two countries with an intention to site appropriate juvenile practices as they apply in the two countries (2004, 2 of 154). They found out that in Germany, the system is more lenient and diversions are upheld. In Colorado, an abit more severe punishment oriented system of justice was applied. However, the effects in arrests and sanctions affected had little impact in changing the future prospects of the same crimes happening. The harder and severe the sanctions in Germany were, the higher was the chances of the repeat of the same crimes by the juveniles. Harp, Bell, Bazemore and Thomas undertook to study what the essence of studying the track record and performance indicators on the juvenile justice system. According to the team, performance measurement was important in analyzing the accomplishments that the systems have been having over time and in the end suggest probable mechanisms and policies to effectuate the desired performance of the justice systems. However, they found out that no measurable features concerning the performance existed and this made their study unsuccessful. They only found indicators of general performance such as arrests, referrals and the number of “juveniles” under detention (2006, 3). This therefore necessitated designing measurable qualitative aspects of the system performances in order to have effective analysis in the future. A study by the “National Council on Crime and Delinquency and the Center for Children’s Law and Policy” found out that juveniles in the countries were receiving different treatments in the justice system. Their research found out that “the minority” youth receive harsher punishment and longer jail imprisonment terms than their counterpart whites. On establishing the reasons, the team learnt that there exists racial bias in the jurisdictions and the application of jurisdictions in the urban or rural courts (Armour and Hammond, 2009, 4-5). As an analysis of researches done, in 2001, the “Robert Wood Johnson Foundation” founded a holistic initiative dabbed as the “reclaiming futures”. Apart from the main theme of reforming the drug and substance youth addict, they upheld the view that youths are as “growing trees” which will always take the direction directed towards. Thus the pro-social approaches of juvenile justice system that are widely used are pro results. They reasoned that more than corporal punishment is needed while correcting the youths. In the regard, the group designed and mobilized community involvement in justice administration to youngsters. They advocated for less punishment but guidance and counseling mechanisms of approach to crimes committed by the young (Willison, Et al, 2010, 1-3). A report by Mahoney, Ford, Ko and Siegfried, on “Trauma-Focused Interventions for Youth in the Juvenile Justice System”, indicated that many of the juvenile cases over years occur as the children fall victims of traumatic scenarios either as the victims are better still as witnesses. Therefore, the psychological understanding of the future crimes committed often result from trauma related stress. Thus the view opinion of the group over such cases is that the justice system only worked to add to trauma and stress as against the correction intended (2004, 3-7). They therefore advocated for better improved mechanisms of correction through proper studying the rationale of the crimes caused. Better mechanisms to attend to such cases were through psychological guidance and counseling. The juvenile justice system can only be effective by administering trauma related treatment to the victims and involving group and family correction. According to a study named “healing invisible wounds”, establishing children who suffer stress or trauma along the juvenile justice is not done or when done, it is done inappropriately. As a result the effectiveness of the justice system is compromised more often. The recommendations from the study are an overhaul reform in justice to the youths. The psychologists, social scientists, and experts in justice and medicine, too support the reforms (Anon, 2010, 1-8). In expounding in the study of “General Strain Theory and Homeless Youth”, it is true that life strains and stress often result to negative behavior. Kids often suffering from parental neglect or abuse engage in criminal activities. Research showed that the disorganization of home backgrounds to many of the homeless kids trigger anger in them and this leads to criminal acts (Ferguson, et al, 2012, 2-13). With the findings, proposals of inclusion of medical expertise in administering justice to the youths were made. The youngsters suffering the stress and strain were well able to indulge in offensive deeds and thus psychological understanding would go a long way in correcting the youths. Analysis and Discussion From the above literature examination, one thing came up; that different countries employ differing juvenile system compared to the other. However, the motive is usually one and that is to bring back sanity to the victims (Wiig and Tuell, 2004, Xiii-Xiv). There is disparity in administering justice to kids as they vary in age and hence becoming complicated. Designing and formulation of the laws that govern the juvenile system is also a critical area of analysis. Different players such as parents, psychology teams and social worker should work together with the legal teams who formulate these laws (Osher and Hunt, 2002, 1-2). Nevertheless, the proposal has not always been the case and thus the effectiveness of the system fail. The researchers conducted indicate varying causes of improper behavior to kids. Much of the findings reveal some correlation between the behavior of youths and the physical environment they live in. moreover, the relationship between the youths and their parents and or guardians contribute so much towards the conduct of these children. There is a great importance to include such examinations as background set-up for the victims, drug and substance abuse and well so trauma/stress effect on the victims (Vincent, 2012, 1-2). The resultant implications of the above literature are that juvenile systems as designed work with a lot of rigidity. Little is the review to the systems from the original formation to the way they are currently operating. This is erroneous in that the world is dynamic and hence the need for constant and regular reviews to our systems of justice. There are law reforms that have been affected on different groups such as the youths and which are yet to be incorporated to the justice systems. This has rendered the efforts to administer justice to these group as more often, the groups become defensive on the account of the other laws. Discrimination on the basis of race, place of residence and the social class has been another reason for shaky juvenile system. Research has revealed that in some countries, the minority suffer harsh corrective measures than their white counterparts. The minors serve longer imprisonment terms and receive harsh corporal punishment. This disparity and discrimination often work to instill bitterness to the kids who ultimately reiterate with committing crime the more. The psychology of the brain development of the children is an important aspect to understand while instilling discipline in the young ones (Ford , Chapman,Hawke and Albert, 2007, 1-2) . More often, simple mechanisms of talking and loving the juveniles work better than the justice system. Though some studies lack factual verification of their findings, there critical analysis of their themes of study give supportive evidence to acknowledge their findings. The study on the justice performance lacks measurable units of analysis and thus poses a challenge of authenticity of the findings. Much of the study in this field was hypothesized on theories and not orders. Moreover, even though the studies employed sampling in different regions, the samples taken and used lacked representativeness. Finally the definitions used in the different studies lacked standard terms and as such, the interpretation would vary. For instance, the term “youth” would have different meanings in different countries of analysis. Conclusions In the pursuit to establish whether the juvenile system of justice is validly capable of addressing the issues with juveniles and the youths, this research has some findings and recommendations. Among the findings, there are loop holes that are evidence in the said system which prompts reforms. The interpretation of the law as to who are youths and their coverage in legal matters remain vague. No universality in the legal matters discussed above holds as different countries hold and run their justice systems differently This research has therefore ascertained the need for overall revisit of the building blocks into juvenile justice. Policy recommendations i. As part of recommendations, this paper suggests that there be an all inclusive justice system that will comprehensively look into the legal matters of the juveniles. By this, there will be no disparities as to whether the youths are included or not. ii. Moreover, for success in restoring justice to the young, it is the recommendation of this study that other disciplines be included in juvenile justice. These are the psychologists, social scientists and the parents or the guardians. iii. Finally, juvenile justice would be more successful if discrimination of the victims is avoided and due justice be accorded to all on fail basis. This paper proposes future research be conducted in the possible age limits susceptible to different corrective measure in the justice system. This would be informative on what are the manners of prejudice and discriminations in justice meted on kids. References Ford J. D. Et al, 2007. 1-2. Trauma Among Youth in the Juvenile Justice System:Critical Issues and New Directions. Research and Program Brief. NCMHJJ. June 2007. 1-8 Wiig J.K. and Tuell J.A. 2004. Xiii-XiV. A framework for improved outcomes. Guidebook for JuvenileJustice &ChildWelfare SystemCoordination and Integration. 2004. 1-172 Ferguson K. M. et al. 2012. 2-13. General Strain Predictors of Arrest History Among HomelessYouth from Four United States Cities. OJJDP Journal of Juvenile Justice. Volume 1, Issue 2, S pring 2012, Pages 1–127 Anonymous. 2010. 1-8. HEALING INVISIBLE WOUNDS: Why Investing in Trauma-Informed Care for Children Makes Sense. Justice policy institute. July 2010. 1-15 Mahony K. et al. 2004. 3-7. Trauma-Focused Interventions for Youth in the Juvenile Justice System National Child Traumatic Stress Network. NCTSN. 2004. 1-9 Huizinga D, Schumann K, Ehret B, and Elliott A. 2004. 2. The Effect of Juvenile Justice System Processing on Subsequent Delinquent and Criminal Behavior: A Cross-National Study. 2004. 1-154. Harp C., Bell D., Bazemore G. and Thomas D.2006. 3. A guide for developing and implementing performance for juvenile justice system. APRI. June 2006. 1-64 Armour J. and Hammond S. 2009. 4-5. Minority Youth in the Juvenile Justice SystemDisproportionate Minority Contact. National Conference of State Legislatures. January 2009. 1-12 Willison J.B. et al. 2010. 1-3. Reforming Juvenile Justice Systems. A RECLAIMING FUTURES NATIONAL EVALUATION REPORT. 1-36. Vincent G.M. 2012. 1-2. Screening and Assessment in Juvenile Justice Systems: Identifying Mental Health Needs and Risk of Reoffending. Juvenile Justice Resource Series. January 2012. 1-17 Osher T. and Hunt P. 2002. 1-2. Involving Families of Youths Who Are In Contact With The Juvenile Justice System. Research and program brief. December 2002. 1-6. Read More