Essay Example on Examining Juvenile Recidivism in Single-Parent Households

Keywords: Single parents, criminal justice, juvenile, and recidivism.

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Can Life Skills Training such as Communication, Advocacy, Problem Solving, and Mentorship be more Effective in Reducing Criminal Justice Involvement among Transitional-Aged Females or Males

1.0 Introduction

Life skills programs are designed in such a way that they improve the post-release outcomes through provisions of certain life skills that facilitate training. These programs have had a tendency to cover various topics such as communication, problem-solving, advocacy, mentorship management of anger, setting goals, time management, and different family skills. Adolescents are the main focus of criminal justice administered in transitional-aged youths.

1.1 Statement of the Problem

Life skills training programs such as communication, problem-solving, advocacy, and mentorship are created to help the participants, most of whom are transitional-aged males and females reduce their chances of getting engaged in criminal justice (Matejkowski et al., 2014). Transitional males have a tendency to have more crime rates than transitional females mainly due to peer pressure and the use of drugs, which leads them to crime creating higher chances for them to be arrested and arraigned in court and later jail (Matejkowski et al., 2014). Over the years, different researches have been done performed aiming at an analysis of the skills training and the youth groups which help children between the ages of 15-29 years to benefit and change any negative behaviors that they may have (Matejkowski et al., 2014). This research will target youth organizations and donors that will integrate the use of the skills to shape their members, especially those from juvenile, which will help to reduce recidivism cases in the United States.

1.2 Objectives of the Study

To discuss how communication, advocacy, mentorship, and problem-solving are effective in the reduction of criminal justice involvement in the transition age.

To explain how single parenthood and ethnicity has caused increased recidivism.

To discuss how life skills training is important and beneficial in the reduction of crime.

1.3 Research Questions

What are the life skills training programs that can be used to reduce criminal justice involvement among young adults?

What are the benefits of this program to juveniles?

How willing are juveniles to participate in programs for the youths?

2.0 Literature Review

This literature review will serve the purpose of determining whether past researches have succeeded or failed in creating life skill programs that help to deal with criminal justice involvement in the transition age (Zajac et al., 2015). Researchers in various studies have focused more on the development of the brain of the young adults from the age of 18 to 24 years and have realized that the main reasons why these groups of people are the largest groups of people who find themselves in juveniles are such as risk-taking, increased impulsive behaviors and poor decision making skills (Zajac et al., 2015).

Zajac et al. (2015) explain that every year in the United States, more than two million persons in the transitional age that involve children, adolescents, and different young people transitioning to adulthood. The majority of the transitional youths are placed under a rehabilitation center for some time and necessary precautions taken to reduce the chances of recidivism among the victims (Zajac et al., 2015).

The transition age males and females are often vulnerable to mental health problems that emerge from substance abuse and pressure from peers that may cause them to be rehabilitated. However, the rehabilitation programs and skills that exist currently are a failure in the addressing of the main issue affecting the young people in these groups as it creates barriers that make it hard to meet the needs that such people have so that they can notice positive changes in their lives (Zajac et al., 2015).

Law enforcement officials have most of the time reported that many violent crimes are committed by the youths at the age between 18 and 24, and even after they are taken to a juvenile or prison and released after their terms are over, they are the most likely to be victims of recidivism amongst other prisoners (Morsy & Rothstein, 2016). When the people at the transition age from childhood to adulthood are found guilty of a certain crime, the juvenile and the adults' systems of criminal justice are not fully responsible for the provision of certain correctional services as well as supervision of the criminals.

The leaders of the criminal justice systems should work towards ensuring that the young adults receive adequate services and supervision that will appropriately address the individuals in the transitional age. Incorporating life skill training will be more effective in reducing the likelihood of the young adults finding themselves in the wrong and avoiding the involvement of the Criminal Justice to correct their behaviors in a stricter manner (Morsy & Rothstein, 2016). The training of life skills helps ensure that young adults are ready for the transitions they are about to experience independence. Life skills can be imparted to the young adults by family or supportive adults that offer them a chance to navigate through the transition to adulthood, which most of them find to be hard (Morsy & Rothstein, 2016).

All the staff that is given the duty to interact with the young adults and ensure that they transition successfully into adulthood are required to acquire adequate training on how to intervene in their lives so as to satisfy the needs they may have (Wilson, 2010). Due to a large number of youths in the transition age, it is important that the system has a wide knowledge of the changes that are expected to occur in the vocational, educational and relational roles that may include the influence that family has on such youth as well as their social networks that are always changing (Wilson, 2010).

This stage in the lives of young adults is a big threat to their growth, and even those that are well-adjusted face challenges choosing their careers and moving away from their families to start their independent lives away from them (Wilson, 2010). The main issues that the Criminal Justice which deal with these youths face include mental disorders such as disorders in their behaviors and moods that may cause them to get into the abuse of substances that lead them to the trouble and are likely to make them get in the wrong side of the law.

When such situations are not handled early, the young adults may face conditions that reoccur in their lives and increase their chances of negative outcomes such as recidivism and committing offenses, some of which are violent and may cost them many of their youthful years in jail (Scommegna, 2014). The involvement of Criminal Justice makes it easier for the care of large numbers of youths that have problems transitioning from parental care to independence.

Rather than waiting for the individuals in the transitional age to get into problems with the Criminal Justice System, certain life skills are significant for the reduction of the system's involvement (Scommegna, 2014). These skills can be incorporated in the lives of the youths, and they help shape them to transition well into adulthood without falling into problems with the law. The topic on life skills and how they are effective in reducing the chances of involvement by Criminal Justice is important because it helps to reduce the number of the youths who find themselves in situations that require them to be placed under reform efforts for a change in behavior (Scommegna, 2014).

The criminal justice efforts for reforms have had an increase in young adults overrepresented in the system of justice, such as jails, prisons, and juveniles. Lack of training on certain life skills has been a major cause of an increase in numbers of people arrested for various crimes they commit, most of which are violent (Martin, 2017). In the United States, only 9.9% of the total populations are in the age bracket of 18 to 24 years old, but they make the largest percentages of the prison population, and arrests from cases of robbery and homicide (Martin, 2017).

The best way that the 18-24 years olds justice system involvements engage the community-based approaches should be outside the formal justice systems for reduced involvement of the law that may land the youths into problems (Martin, 2017). The approach is most of the time appropriate for development and tailored individually for purposes of seeking a reduction in the justice system of the individuals and the collateral consequences that may emerge from any contacts with the justice system (Martin, 2017). The approach to help the young adults will help empower them and their neighborhoods as well as strengthening communities that help build on the young adults' strengths.

2.1 Problem Solving Skills

In case an individual is affected by problems that may cause them to involve themselves in criminal activities, they are placed under a treatment plan that addresses motivation and problem-solving techniques (Global Partnership for Youth Employment et al., 2014). These skills have had a positive history of improving the cognitive, emotional, social, and coping skills of the individual, which plays a major role in building social activities and supports (GPYE et al., 2014). The problem-solving skill also helps reduce the in...