Due to implementation-related expenses, the US's criminal justice system places a heavy burden on the taxpayers. In addition, a sizeable part of the incarceration is due to juvenile recidivism; youths contribute to the overall rate of recurrence in place. The money is used extensively to combat youth recidivism. (McCollister, French & Fang, 2010). Given that, it is important to address recidivism because doing so would make program expenses unmanageable and prohibitively expensive. The study's goal was to examine juvenile offenders more closely to see if they changed after completing rehabilitation programs effectively. It's to comprehend the best strategy and mechanisms to put in place so as to mitigate the matter. There is an analysis of diverse theories and frameworks which work towards assisting the juveniles to desist from criminal activities and avoid becoming delinquents (Curran & Renzetti, 2001). Attachment, involvement, and commitment were some of the ways used to develop questions that would aid in the collection of details and scrutinize the study results.
Purpose of Statement
A phenomenological approach was most suited as it incorporates numerous experiences that the individual encounter. The study focuses on understanding the reentry from a phenomenological perspective since unearthing young offenders' integration programs could be crucial in filling the void which exists on what gets known about juvenile recidivism plus reintegration. A need arises on the urgency of understanding issues faced by offenders and in details providing feedback from research participants. The phenomenological approach is successful basing its use in other spheres of societal matters in uncovering underlying problems. Further, the method has been integrated into various fields so as to give experiences to subjects that got sidelined for quite some time. Not all the youths who have faced incarceration or other risk factors linked to being causes or are related to delinquency. It is therefore of the essence to examine the young individuals who have successfully gotten over stigmatization and offenses. It's to abet in preventing a repeat of the vices. The study needs to get conducted on a population with similar experiences which in our case would be the ex-offenders.
Research Questions Leading to Study of Findings
The data obtained from the research articles got collected through interviews conducted on successfully reintegrated juvenile offenders. From the study, there was one key research question and two corollary questions (Creswell, 2012). They would enhance clarity and direct the review in appropriate ways which would uncover the main issue of concern. The research questions included (1) what is the description of successful experiences by the juveniles under parole? (2) What is the story of successful reintegration by offenders? (3) Are the bonding programs and elements a description of the success of the rehabilitation process? After an analysis of the data, there was unearthing of the diverse experiences by the ex-offenders which included self-awareness, supportive and positive relationships and maturation as paramount in accomplishing and achieving the reintegration process. The study was vital in comprehending the exceptional juvenile rehabilitation with the motive and hope enhancing the policies to lower the recidivism rates.
Summary of Key Findings
The study got developed with the sole purpose of making use of experiences from successfully reintegrated offenders. It would provide a framework for enhancing the efficiency of the reintegration programs that would overall lower the high rates of recidivism that burden taxpayers (Howell, 2003). From the articles reviewed, the undertaking of other researches using the themes in place would form a stepping stone in coming up with a consensus on how support policy and practices would strike a balance between society safety and rehabilitation. Supported granted to the research would prove to be of help and the much-needed investment aimed at lowering the ever escalating costs associated with juvenile incarceration and recidivism. Concerning that, law enforcement plays a crucial duty in the justice system and forms the system's primary outlook. It's the first defense line in halting illegal practices and victimization. If resources are properly integrated to ensure youth friendly law enforcers, active participation in community service provision and law enforcement agencies it can highly aid in deterrence and the rehabilitation of many young offenders from diverse states (Howell, 2003).
The articles summarized illustrate alternative ways to tackle the matter holistically. They could help law enforcers come up with better ways to assist returning juvenile ex-offenders. The information can arm various agencies with the knowledge useful in inevitably advocating for needs attached to the younger demography. It would help them in going back to their communities. There is also need for positivity in the matter to cultivate a mindset to those who are not hopeful of the young adults ever changing their ways. Some of the proposed methods include through the general incorporation of efforts from various individuals involved in the young adults' lives. It's with the objective of positively influencing and guiding them in the right paths to avoid the temptation of engaging in vices. The articles propose a systematic approach to remedying and saving young people from the life of crime. All that can get achieved through using the experiences of ex-offenders who managed to become better to dissect the matter to law enforcers and other agencies precisely. It would form a framework to develop enhanced programs that would ultimately come up with the long-awaited solution to the problem (Stoodley, 2010).
The Gap Available for Study
An apparent gap that would assist in the learning of the topic is uncovering the underlying consequences on the prevalence of the issue. The realization of such important matters would be helpful in coming up with approaches geared towards solving the particular problem. Policies shouldn't get ratified and impose quickly without proper background information. In conclusion, the matter on juvenile recidivism is critical and requires consulted and organized the effort to tackle it to avoid the emergence of eventualities later and spilling out of control.
Annotated Bibliography
Abrams, L. S. (2006). Listening to juvenile offenders: Can residential treatment prevent recidivism? Child and Adolescent Social Work Journal, 23(1), 61-85.The paper examines treatment advanced to juveniles in perspective regarding various correctional facilities. The research gets based on a face to face encounter with juvenile offenders in correctional facilities and how the experiences shape their afterward turn of events. Youths’ experiences in the prisons get highlighted that could play a hand in the rise of recidivism. On the contrary, experiences in residential care are examined and seem to influence young offenders to desist from crime. The paper provides information crucial in enhancing effectiveness in institutional care.
Bradshaw, W. & Roseborough, D. (2005). Restorative justice dialogue: The impact of mediation and conferencing on juvenile recidivism. Fed. Probation, 69, 15.There is the need for effective programs and interventions to counter the rising juvenile recidivism. Therefore, there is need to broaden on the approaches used to handle the problem. One of the proposals is the use of restorative justice dialogue that involves many parties in the whole process to assist rehabilitating the young offender and offer systematic guidance in the entire process. Individuals such as parents, teachers among other close associates get noted as being of significant contribution in the enabling of success on the treatment programs.
Creswell, J. W. (2012). Qualitative inquiry and research design: Choosing among five approaches. New York, NY: Sage. The purpose of the article is to assist in formulating a qualitative study or inquiry targeted at a particular outcome. The report gets structured by providing five approaches that are fundamental in any qualitative research. The structure begins from the formulation of the problem statement, purpose statement and research models to be used in collecting and analyzing data. It is crucial as the guide aids in developing a target study appropriately with the aim of determining the most appropriate outcome.
Curran, D. J., & Renzetti, C. M. (2001). Theories of crime. London: Pearson.The article analyzes some of the theories that try to explain the occurrence of criminal activities. It's vital since the principles could help in examining the thought process of various individuals and what triggers them to engage in the vices. The article is of great importance in our study since the issues of recidivism is deep and requires thorough consideration to abet it. Information obtained would aid in concentrating and integrating the knowledge to a particular target group and try to relate the theories with practical situations. It would help in coming up with solutions to tackle the problem.
Howell, J. C. (2003). Preventing and reducing juvenile delinquency: A comprehensive framework. New York, NY: Sage. The book is an eye opener on the current studies and programs relating to understanding and controlling juvenile delinquency. All factors relating to juvenile delinquency ranging from the frameworks, policies, and costs among others get adequately examined. They help in analyzing the current and past systems used to handle the problem and formulate the optimal approach that would keep up with the ever-changing nature of the issue. The qualitative study would be crucial in addressing the subject conclusively through an exact formula.
Petrosino, A., Turpin-Petrosino, C., & Buehler, J. (2002). Scared Straight’and other juvenile awareness programs for preventing juvenile delinquency. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2.Randomized trials were conducted to establish the efficiency of Scared Straight and other programs over a period. Empirical evidence got provided so that it can aid in the determination of the appropriateness of the methods. There was a general consensus on the need to alter the intervention programs if any progress was to get achieved besides mentoring and convincing the youth to desist from crime.
McCollister, K. E., French, M. T., & Fang, H. (2010). The cost of crime to society: New crime-specific estimates for policy and program evaluation. Drug and alcohol Dependence, 108(1), 98-109. Coming up with cost estimates on any program in a society such as community policing and substance abuse treatment is crucial in determining efficiency. Reviewing of crime costing unearths multiple information sources based on ten years of research. The article presents a comprehensive way of calculating the impact and viability of such programs using the latest data and details. It, therefore, offers insight on some of the best strategies that can get implemented by various agencies tasked with different mandates. It would be paramount in determining more prudent policy evaluations among other interventions that would help in lowering crime.
Stoodley, B. (2010). To measure or not to measure? The recidivism dilemma. Corrections Today, 72(4), 86-87. The article addresses the need for determining whether it is important to quantify juvenile recidivism programs. From a look at the current turn of events, the sustainability of handling minor programs is coming under sharp criticism. The article, therefore, addresses the matter by examining various delinquent programs based on the cost factors to determine their level of sustainability. It provides crucial information which would assists policy makers in drafting better approaches aimed at mitigating the ever escalating costs and whether the move is of any impact.
References
Abrams, L. S. (2006). Listening to juvenile offenders: Can residential treatment prevent recidivism? Child and Adolescent Social Work Journal, 23(1), 61-85.
Bradshaw, W. & Roseborough, D. (2005). Restorative justice dialogue: The impact of mediation and conferencing on juvenile recidivism. Fed. Probation, 69, 15.
Creswell, J. W. (2012). Qualitative inquiry and research design: Choosing among five approaches. New York, NY: Sage.
Curran, D. J., & Renzetti, C. M. (2001). Theories of crime. London: Pearson.
Howell, J. C. (2003). Preventing and reducing juvenile delinquency: A comprehensive framework. New York, NY: Sage.
Petrosino, A., Turpin-Petrosino, C., & Buehler, J. (2002). Scared Straight’and other juvenile awareness programs for preventing juvenile delinquency. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2.
McCollister, K. E., French, M. T., & Fang, H. (2010). The cost of crime to society: New crime-specific estimates for policy and program evaluation. Drug and alcohol Dependence, 108(1), 98-109.
Stoodley, B. (2010). To measure or not to measure? The recidivism dilemma. Corrections Today, 72(4), 86-87.
