More Treatment, Better Treatment & Beyond Treatment

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.