Research Paper on Juvenile Justice: Punishment vs. Treatment

Introduction

Punishment and treatment are concepts that are related to juvenile justice. Fundamentally, punishment refers to the infliction or imposition of a penalty as retribution for an offense. The primary aim of punishment in the context of juvenile justice is to deter the offenders from repeating the same wrongdoing and reform them into a law-abiding citizen. On the other hand, the treatment refers to how someone behaves towards another person. While both the punishment and treatment may be used in similar ways, the punishment is stricter than the treatment (Bates & Swan, 2020).

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Based on the fact that infliction of punishment is usually intended to cause and often does create some form of deprivation for the person being punished, the pain offers an unparalleled opportunity for the abuse of power. To distinguish such abuses that emanate from the legitimate deprivations, the essential punishment from the excesses of punitive sentences that embody cruel and inhumane punishments is important to rely on the way punishment is connected to elements that constitute the sentence as and whatever justifies it.

The vital fact to note is that punishment differs in their degree of severity, and may integrate features such as the sanctions such as the reprimands, privilege deprivations, fine, incarcerations, and the infliction of pain. Amputation and death penalty also constitute some of the examples of corporal punishment. In this case, the punishments may be judged as fair or unfair, depending on the degree of reciprocity or proportionality to the offense (Bates & Swan, 2020).

Types of Treatment Versus Types of Punishment for Juvenile Crimes

Several different kinds of treatment may be available to juvenile offenders in secure corrections. Various treatment types include behavioral, cognitive-behavioral, cognitive education, and non-behavioral (Bates & Swan, 2020). Fundamentally, behavioral treatment is based on learning theories, which argue that criminal conduct is obtained through learning. Behavioral therapy employs a learning mechanism aimed at reversing the learning process. This helps teach individuals how to replace their criminal tendencies with socially acceptable behavior. All the staff is involved in the delivery of behavioral treatment programs (Bates & Swan, 2020).

The cognitive-behavioral treatment forms another essential type of therapy used for juvenile offenders. This form of treatment focuses on teaching offenders skills that will assist them in interacting with other people on various issues such as prosocial values. The fundamental elements, in this case, include the evaluation of the deficits in the cognitive and interaction skills of the subject.

Another element include the treatment that is applied in small groups for the several weekly sessions and the strategies such as interpersonal cognitive problem solving, social skills training, anger control, development of values, creative thinking, and critical reasoning (Bates & Swan, 2020). Another treatment, cognitive treatment, is based on the cognitive-behavioral model, which focuses on cognitive reframing through the control of cognitive distortions, automatic thought, and self-instructions.

There are two types of punishment that exist. These include the incarceration of offenders and non-incarceration strategies. The incarceration options for the juvenile deliquescent involves the determination that a minor violated a criminal law and, therefore, must be incarcerated (Garbarino & Plantz, 2017).

The offender at this level may thus face a different level of punishment such as the home confinement or house arrest, placement with someone other than the guardian, juvenile hall, probation after the juvenile hall, and the blended sentence. On the other hand, the non-incarceration punishments for juvenile offenders include activities such as verbal warning, fine, counseling, community service, electronic monitoring, and probation (Bates & Swan, 2020).

Building a case study: Drug Possession

Many youths in the parts of the United States have been reported to engage in criminal activities such as drug possession and abuse. Drug and substance abuse among juveniles is on the rise. As a result, those who abuse the drugs end up encountering severe consequences such as depression and stress, health issues, and social problems. While this is so, the use of treatment is crucial in addressing his problem among the youths. Treatment, in this case, encompasses the elements such as rehabilitation and counseling, all of which are tailored towards helping the criminal come of out the situation and make life better.

Prevailing Thoughts About Juvenile Justice in the City of Choice

I live in San Jose, and I think that my State should implement an appropriate philosophy for the treatment of juvenile offenders. Juvenile is fundamentally young people and requires a special type of therapy that helps solve the majority of the problems they are facing (Garbarino & Plantz, 2017).

Also, the majority of the juveniles have minor issues, which means that it will not take much to correct their actions. Research has shown that subjecting the juveniles who continually break the law and rules into punishment does not help solve or address the problems they are facing. While it is evident that minors can be punished for specific causes, I think they should also be treated as adults.

In Illinois, for example, the authority should treat juveniles to help them address the adverse thought problems as well as the intentions to make it in life. This will further help develop good ideas that will consequently help them solve the challenges they face. Thus, it is right to mention that treatment is critical in healing the mindset and confidence of juveniles. Young people who demonstrate confidence tend to enjoy their life because of the belief that they can achieve believe that the dream they have that many people may not achieve.

Moreover, studies have shown that the juvenile tends to break the law believe that they cannot accomplish such things as graduating in school, getting a job, or enlisting the military. Their future should thus be put into consideration when addressing the problems faced by a juvenile (Garbarino & Plantz, 2017). Mistakes are meant to happen, and I think the sooner that it does happen, the quicker youths could learn from it. After making a mistake once, I believe that minors will not do the same thing if they are to be punished.

Jurisdiction With a Lower Rate of Recidivism

Studies have shown that the cities and states all utilize the theory of punishment and treatment based on the fact that they both work together. Punishment plays a crucial role in teaching the juveniles that there are consequences to bad decisions making. The sentence shows youths that there are consequences to bad decision making.

Being punished for intending to better minors to learn to follow the rules and do not break the law (McCord & Conway, 2018). When juveniles are not penalized for their mistakes, they feel untouchable and continued their wrongdoing. However, after receiving punishment, I think juveniles will be treated during the process because they will not frequently want to be in jail or probation. Jail and probation purposes are to rehabilitate juveniles so that they will not break the law again and to act civilized.

I think it has had much success since it has been established. Jail is a place juveniles will not want to be, so they will always try to get probation, but juveniles still have a chance of going to jail if they violate. Community service and fines are a part of the punishment and are mandatory if minors do not report they will be arrested. Probation officers' duties are to enforce authority upon youths make them disciplined and law-abiding.

The majority of juveniles think of their probation officers as a counselor, and over the survey that all juveniles' criminals were asked would they rather be in jail or on probation, one hundred percent voted that they would rather be on probation. Punishment gives juveniles more freedom than being in prison and gives them a fair chance to get their life right. Even though some may have a curfew, they still all stated it is much better than being in jail.

Strategies of Reducing the Juvenile Crime

Strategies to reduce juvenile crimes have been used for a long time in many cities and states. Fundamentally, when the juveniles commit an act that would be criminal if committed by an adult, the juvenile is determined to be deliquescent. Deliquescent may include crimes against people and illegal activities against the property, drug offenses, and crimes against the public officers. It is, therefore, crucial to understand that the delinquency prevention efforts seek to redirect the youths who are viewed at-risk for delinquency or who have committed a delinquent offense from deeper involvement within the juvenile justice system.

One primary strategy to reduce juvenile crimes is reducing access to firearms for people at risk of committing violence. Notably, these are a variety of the strategies that are critical in addressing gun violence through minimization of the diversion of a firearm from legal to illegal users and prevent people at high risks of abuse from purchasing firearms. In the case of juvenile justice, the reduction of supply of weapons, as well as its accessibility to youths, is beneficial because it makes them less likely to perpetrate crimes. The balance of research evidence indicates that laws strengthening background checks and requiring a permit to purchase a firearm are associated with reductions in gun homicides. However, the evidence of effect for other types of firearm laws and murder are either mixed or negative.

The schools can also be used to prevent delinquency among juveniles. Longitudinal studies have shown that low measured intelligence, poor academic achievement, small vocabulary, and reduced verbal reasoning are predictors of chronic delinquency among the youths. Fundamentally, the poor executive functions that include the ability to plan and sequence behavior have been linked to stable, aggressive behavior in early-adolescent boys. These behaviors can be solved through school processes and climate that are related to the level of achievements and delinquency.

It is important to note that the school environment characterized by competitive academic performance and activities is critical in helping juveniles address some of the problems or challenges they are facing. In most cases, the youths will be taught on essential life skills lessons such as the necessity of discipline, the importance of being responsible citizens. As such, students subjected to these types of activities often experience a stimulated interest in learning, handling non-serious disciplinary problems informally, and strict involvement in activities or programs accepted.

One major element worth understanding is that the strategies towards crime reduction among the youths are mainly not dependent on the type of crime. However, this does not mean that all kinds of crimes have their specific intervention strategies. The majority of this intervention can apply to many of the crimes, such as homicides, theft, robbery, and rape, among others.

Best Juvenile Justice Strategy

Based on my research, the juvenile justice intervention strategy that would be most effective to counter the crime or criminal justice issue is the reducing youths' access to dangerous weapons such as firearms. Studies have shown that amongst all the activities, youths who are accessible to weapons tend to engage in a wide range of crimes such as murder, homicides, robbery with violence, and rape. They use these weapons to take advantage...