Many people are asking what the
future holds for our juvenile justice system and our growing youth? As we are
currently dealing with a system that for many years has placed a strong
emphasis on reactive punishment for criminal delinquents such as incarcerating
our youth in adult prisons and “scaring them straight” with harsh punishments.
We have seen that these types of extreme measures do not work for adolescents
who are out in the community committing crimes, or those who are already caught
up in the criminal justice system. These teens are actually learning to become
tougher in these institutions and are getting the chance to associate with more
serious offenders. What we need to see in the future of the juvenile justice
system is for the system as a whole to seek a brighter future and seek to
change in all aspects of so that teens get the help they need and communities
are safer.
To do that, judges, probation officers,
substance abuse treatment professionals, and community members have to work together
to help out the children that have been consumed by this system. Developing a
local leadership where
all of these administrators can come together and work on establishing a common
goal in which will retain a positive reaction to our delinquent youth is an
idea that can, if properly and thoroughly executed, change the life of many
within the community. Judges can promote change within the judicial system that
can affect the way all teens seen by the court are handled and their standing
in the community can change public attitudes towards youth in the trouble with
the law. The treatment professionals such as counselors and probation officers
are the ones who should be guiding young people through the juvenile justice
system and provide assistance to families to set a healthy lifestyles,
therefore serving as a central influence when it comes to setting these
adolescents in the right path. Members of community also need to become
involved in this process to assist as support and engage these adolescents in
positive activities post treatment.
We know that many teens in America
are experimenting with alcohol and drugs, and research shows that teens with
substance abuse problems are more likely to break the law, behave violently, or
drop out of school. According to national data, almost two million young people
ages 12 to 17 need treatment for substance abuse or dependence, but only one in
10 will get treated (Reclaiming Futures, 2012). That's unfortunate, because
effective adolescent substance abuse treatment can help teens stay out of
trouble, make our communities safer, and save money. Young people need to be
held accountable when they break the law, but unless they receive treatment
when they have a substance abuse problem that helped them get in trouble in the
first place, they will usually find themselves back in juvenile court again and
again.
Practitioner recommendations for
improving the effectiveness of the juvenile justice system generally focused on
providing adequate resources including qualified staff and financial resources
for training, staff development, and programs and services. Administering juvenile justice in a
collaborative manner, using a range of sanctions to provide meaningful and
effective consequences, focusing on prevention and interventions to address
juveniles’ unique needs, and developing policies and practices based on
evidence and practitioner input represented other notable respondent
recommendations (Willison, Mears, & Butts, 2010).
So what do teens in the juvenile
justice system need? They need more treatment, better treatment and beyond
treatment. In order for America to produce law-abiding children and adolescents
we must focus on prevention and early intervention with an emphasis on
treatment and programs. The local juvenile justice systems must do a better job
of identifying teens that need treatment, and assess their individual needs by
helping them implement high-quality, validated screening and assessment tools
and placing them in the proper treatment.
It's important to act quickly when a
teen is ready to participate in treatment—those windows of opportunity close
quickly. Interning with the local school district for the past three months has
taught me that adolescents change their mind about treatment about three times
in the same week so we must quickly take advantage of their desire to
change.
Almost every young person who
appears in front of a juvenile court eventually returns home, and to be able to
remain crime-free after probation these teens need mentors and care from the
adults in their lives. Having a support system at home can encourage a teen to
finish school, find a job and get involved with positive activities around
their community. We must believe that our children can change and no matter
what role someone plays in the community we should all be responsible for
seeking change in the lives of our future.
References:
Investing in Reclaiming Futures: A
Guide for Public Agencies, Policymakers, and Foundations. (2012). Reclaiming Futures. Retrieved November
23, 2012, from http://www.reclaimingfutures.org/sites/default/files/main_documents/Investing_in_RF_FINAL.pdf
Willison, J. B., Mears, D. P., &
Butts, J. A. (2010). Past, present, and
future of juvenile justice assessing the policy options (APO): final report.
Washington, D.C.: Urban Institute.
Weissberg, Roger P., Karol L.
Kumpfer, and Martin E. P. Seligman. "Prevention That Works For Children
And Youth: An Introduction." American
Psychologist 58.6-7 (2003): 425-432. PsycARTICLES.
Web. 8 Nov. 2012.
