Essay on Juvenile Justice System Transformed: Rise of Minority Court & Teen Courts

Introduction

Over the years, the juvenile justice system has transformed since it was established. One of the most substantial modifications in the justice system history is the generation of the first minority court. The juvenile delinquents in contemporary society perform numerous sorts of crimes each day. Besides, the rapid development of teen courts shows that they are prevalent in various jurisdictions. These courts help youth from different backgrounds and offense categories. For instance, the juvenile court maintains jurisdiction over minorities with mental illnesses, protection orders, child custody disputes, and support. Also, it is in charge of abandonment and abuse cases as well as status offenders. There exist numerous alternatives to be executed in the juvenile justice system, such as treatment and punishment based on the situation and juvenile. The consequences and rewards of both penalty and treatment are shaping the behavior of a minority in society.

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Summary of Treatment Program

The treatment has a specific appeal for utilization with the juveniles. It aims at reaching the socially and offender centered objectives by concentrating on aspects such as interests, adjustment techniques, personal limitations, skills, and life situations. These treatment approaches entail articular inputs and components that are interrelated and organized to create modifications bringing the desired future events like diminished illegal behavior. The adolescents necessitate and deserve exceptional handling as they are in criminal behavior and the formative period during this stage of life.

Also, until these adolescents reach the age of the mid-20s, their brains are still not fully developed (Listwan, 2013). The prefrontal cortex, which functions at controlling rational decisions, and thoughts, do not grow until approximately the age of 25. Hence, treatment is the emphasis of correctional programs for juveniles minimizing misconduct, recidivism, and enhancing post-release employment results. Strengthening the implementation of the existing treatment programs could significantly decrease crimes in the future (Listwan, 2013). Mostly, treatment services happen at homes, schools, prisons, or in the community. Individuals undergoing these treatment programs are less likely to commit other crimes in the future. Thus, treatment programs in the juvenile justice system may be utilized to prevent youths from further processing crimes. Data Showing Treatment Impacts on Juveniles

The treatment has an impact on the community, juveniles, and juvenile justice system as it minimizes minority crimes. Treatment intends to help the youth in rehabilitating and educating them regarding the valuable lessons (Listwan, 2013). It is a reactive strategy and focuses on a tertiary intervention that decreases recidivism to those existing in the juvenile justice system. Bouchard and Wong (2018) conducted meta-analysis research examining 443 different studies to observe the effectiveness of young delinquency courses. They focused on treatment or interventions designed to minimize treat or prevent delinquency as well as challenges of antisocial problems. Research showed that treatment services functioned by as much as 30–35% (Bouchard and Wong, 2018). Thus, the effectiveness of minimizing delinquency portrays that it has achieved some reduction.

Moreover, research has shown that treatment programs are much less expensive than punishing juveniles for having illegal conduct. Treatment decreases the societal expenses of substance abuse more efficiently than incarceration. The Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (CSAT) evaluating the various studies conducted showing the effectiveness and enhancement of treatment approaches supported by their agency comprising their outcomes and economics (Dopp et al., 2014). According to the same research, the treatment program is the most cost-effective in contrast to punishment as an alternative. The examination shows that treatment expenses range from $1,800 to $6,800 per customer (Dopp et al., 2014). Thus, treatment programs are a more cost-effective method to handle juveniles.

Cultural and Diversity Issues

The treatment programs face resource scarcity, especially in the community. Resource limitations can significantly limit the rewards of these services to society (Listwan, 2013). For example, if the treatment agencies would like to provide community-based drug management to the juvenile, however, due to the scarce or unavailable resources in that particular area, the minorities in that program may not benefit fully.

Furthermore, a lack of coordination may lead to diversities in the juvenile justice system. The correctional system needs an imperative level of interagency coordination, which may comprise the school system, day treatment staff, and probation (Listwan, 2013). The communication for these agencies creates the basis for handling the individual case. For instance, the officers in the probation system may focus on the safety of the public hence perceiving themselves in the role of law enforcement. Besides, the treatment agency may feel reluctant to operate with the probation as it might interrupt therapeutic rapport with the client. Therefore, these disparities in communication may result in conflicts and gas in the juvenile justice system.

The social disorganization theory claims that poverty, environment, and other substantial ecological aspects drive the increased rates of crimes. According to the Annie E. Casey Foundation (2013), African-American minorities are almost five times most probably to get confined as their white peers. The disparities in the rates of youth confinement reveal a methodology that treats youth of color, especially African Americans, more severely than the white adolescence. The data are overwhelming concerning the upsurge in the youth of color entailed with juvenile justice systems as a result of drug and alcohol-related charges. In the juvenile justice system, the presence of unbalanced racial representation raises queries regarding fundamental equality and fairness of treatment of these minors by the courts, police, and other workforces linked with the youth system.

Treatment Program towards the Goal of a More Just Society.

The spectrum of fundamental values such as accountability, community protection, an individualized assessment, and competency development signifies the core essentials utilized in numerous combinations to attain the juvenile court and treatment goals. In the united states, various communities have undergone these treatment program processes realizing it is essential to adopt a strategy that balances the system's duties, ensuring community protection; the youths are held responsible for their delinquent conduct as well as offered competencies that aid them to become productive societal members (Sickmund, 2019). These sets of principles can mold a juvenile treatment system as it recognizes and approves the public's right to safety, implements the youth's accountability, commits to attaining outcomes with its client team, and performs all this within the principle of balance.

Empirical Research

The empirical research for the treatment programs shows that there exists a reduction rate on the number of performed crimes after undergoing this approach. The significant decrease in the number of crimes reveals the treatment effectiveness of the numerous services delivered by the treatment program. Individual counseling, interpersonal skills training, and behavioral programs were the most effective interventions for severe and violent juvenile offenders. Treatment and intervention approach that target offenders to provide an incomparable opportunity to minimize the overall rates of crime in society. The programs help in observing the child's challenges, prosocial conduct, and reward behavior, therefore, ignoring or applying adverse consequences to challenging performance. Thus, these treatment programs have a massive impact on rehabilitating or modifying an individual.

Conclusion

In conclusion, a treatment program is the most effective in the juvenile justice system as it lowers the rates of recidivism among youth offenders. Treatment programs are more successful when offered responsively to the delinquent's style of learning, utilizing cognitive-behavioral involvements that modify attitudes and educate concrete abilities. Equally imperative, treatment over punishment minimizes the probability of juvenile recidivism. The juvenile system aims at transforming and shaping the youths to become future successful individuals in society.

References

Bouchard, J., & Wong, J. S. (2018). Examining the effects of intensive supervision and aftercare programs for at-risk youth: A systematic review and meta-analysis. International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology, 62(6), 1509-1534. https://doi.org/10.1177/0306624X17690449

Dopp, A. R., Borduin, C. M., Wagner, D. V., & Sawyer, A. M. (2014). The economic impact of multisystemic therapy through midlife: A cost-benefit analysis with serious juvenile offenders and their siblings. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 82(4), 694-705. doi:10.1037/a0036415.

Listwan, S. J. (2013). Introduction to juvenile justice. Lightning Source.

Sickmund, M. (2019). The balanced approach [Revisited]. Juvenile and Family Court Journal, 70(1), 7-36. https://doi.org/10.1111/jfcj.12124

The Annie E. Casey Foundation. (2013, February 26). Youth incarceration rates in the United States. https://www.aecf.org/resources/youth-incarceration-in-the-united-states/