It wouldn’t surprise me if the percentage of crime committed by juvenile increases from here on out. Many delinquency-prevention programs are being eliminated because of budget cuts. There’s hardly anything else we can do for juveniles because they don’t exist anymore. If anything, running programs that has shown to be effective is better than overcrowding the prison system. According to Greenwood, successful delinquency-prevention programs investment can save tax payers seven to ten dollars for every dollar invested; mainly reducing the spending cost of prison. You think, why not? These are evidence-based researches of delinquency-prevention programs that will save youths from wasting their lives and also prevent the onset of adult criminal career.
Juvenile Justice, broadcasted on January 1, 2010 on Horizon, is a short discussion on issues about the juvenile justice and three bills introduce in the legislature. The first bill addressed the issue of how the law is not clear in regards to charging 15 years old as an adult depending on the crime. The issue is, the alleged crime must be committed at the age of 15 and not any younger. Bill two talks about allowing the county attorney in discretionary cases to try them in adult court without anyone else to review it. A better way to approach this issue is to allow the court to review the circumstances and actually look into the offender’s history and family. The third bill discussed on the video is the three strikes and you’re out. Any two adjudication in juvenile court and a third alleged felony will send you to adult court. The three strikes law was created to target violent offenders or serious offenders. Because of what’s defined as a felony, people who commit non violent crimes like shoplifting or stealing a car can give them their third strike.
I found many of the topics discussed in the video about juveniles to be true and important. Many, but not all, of the juveniles that get transferred into adult court should be there. Putting them into a prison environment where criminal activity are still happening even under correction officers’ supervision is only going to teach and influence them be chronic offenders. Adolescents and adults level of brain development aren’t the same according to brain science researches. When adolescent commit a crime, they don’t think about the consequences or comprehend the different components that are involved. Both speakers agree on the idea that prevention programs are better for juvenile and that not all of them should be transfer to adult court. Ideally, start targeting dysfunctional families from day one because the early you deal with the problem, the better the outcome. However, because of the economy and cuts in the state budget, many of these programs aren’t running anymore when they should be.
My internship has allowed me to see how effective community based program could be. Many of what you come across with are dysfunctional families that are usually on some sort of government aid. This is a community-based program that I do find to be effective. Why? Because it provide direction, guidance, and motivation. By addressing and intervening with their issues, it can make them become a part of the community and deter them from committing new crimes. Some adolescents still need to be told what to do and where to go. Many of them don’t realize that they still have a chance to make something out themselves and that there are programs out there that can help them get back on track. You help evaluate them individually and decide what they need to do by reminding them and referring them to the different programs that are still up and running. The sad thing is, there isn’t much you can do now because of the budget cuts. Positions are being cut and programs are being eliminated; therefore, leaving you to work with less resources. The crime rate will start to rise leaving the criminal justice system no choice, but try to do more with less.
My internship has allowed me to see how effective community based program could be. Many of what you come across with are dysfunctional families that are usually on some sort of government aid. This is a community-based program that I do find to be effective. Why? Because it provide direction, guidance, and motivation. By addressing and intervening with their issues, it can make them become a part of the community and deter them from committing new crimes. Some adolescents still need to be told what to do and where to go. Many of them don’t realize that they still have a chance to make something out themselves and that there are programs out there that can help them get back on track. You help evaluate them individually and decide what they need to do by reminding them and referring them to the different programs that are still up and running. The sad thing is, there isn’t much you can do now because of the budget cuts. Positions are being cut and programs are being eliminated; therefore, leaving you to work with less resources. The crime rate will start to rise leaving the criminal justice system no choice, but try to do more with less.
References:
Greenwood, P.W. (2008). Prevention and Intervention for Juvenile Offenders. Journal Issue: Juvenile Justice, 18-2, retrieved from http://www.princeton.edu/futureofchildren/publications/journals/article/index.xml?journalid=31&articleid=47§ionid=163&submit
Majure, D. & Sauceda, M. (Executive Producers). (January 1, 2010). Juvenile Justice [Television broadcast]. Arizona Board of Regents
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