Providing Work Skills and Experience to Young Offenders

Theory has identified vocational training for at-risk youths to engage in criminal activities as the appropriate means to discourage delinquency and young youth involvement with the justice system. Special attention must be paid to preventing teenagers, including those who have dropped out of school, are unemployed, or are in high-risk environments, from engaging in criminal activities. According to Greene and Foster (2003), school dropouts and unemployed juveniles account for more than one-third of all youths in the juvenile justice system in the United States. Furthermore, Brown and Thakur (2006) indicates that the school dropouts have the high number of juvenile offenders and youths in the correctional systems in the United States based on the significant challenge of gaining good and legal employment opportunities. Therefore results in the high rate of criminal activities among the group.
The prevention mechanisms adopted from literature puts a lot of emphasis on the need for an all-inclusive method through engaging in vocational training in the juvenile and youth correctional justice systems to address the education as well as the workforce needs of the youths. Zabel and Nigro (2007) found out that engaging in vocational and job training approaches in the juvenile and correctional systems provides a preventive approach to the crime through the development of basic skills for the job market and gaining employment opportunities. Based on social control theory as developed by Hirschi (1969), suggested that the application of supervision of the expected behaviors reduces the ability and probability of the youths to take part in delinquent behavior. Therefore, the development of the Parkville Youth Justice Precinct will be helpful for the improvement of individual competencies among the youths to gain proper job opportunities in the baking and hospitality industry once they have served their sentences.
Overview and Discussion of the Theory
Social control theory as developed by Hirschi (1969) posits that the relationships, values, beliefs, and commitments of an individual if internalized based on moral codes and the broader society can help in the limitation of deviant activities. The theory follows that individuals have the internal power through their ego, consciousness, and sensibilities in separating what is wrong and right hence helpful in providing the solution for the likelihood of taking part in deviant behavior. Therefore, the theory provides a contrast in which people must conform based on an authority figure and provides threats through sanctions in case the person should disobey the rules. Adherence to the social control theory, therefore, provides the suggestion that morality can be created through social order hence vocational training can help mitigate deviant behaviors.
According to Jackson Toby (1957), a theorist of the social control theory, through his article " Social Disorganization and Stake in Conformity: Complementary Factors in Predatory Behavior of Hoodlums," explained the reasons adolescents engaged in delinquent activities in the society. However, he also argued that the individuals also felt they had a great lose through joining the delinquent groups, therefore, providing a stake in conformity. The individuals were, shaped based on their ties to the community thereby leading to a form of social control. Therefore, Building the café by the Andrews Labor Government will create a community center helpful in training the individuals on the norms of the community and help in preventing the youths from joining delinquent groups.
Alternative Theories
Other theories also exist that can offer a good explanation for the engagement of Andrews Labor Government to build the Parkville Youth Justice Precinct. One critical alternative theory for the initiative involves the social learning theory as developed by Albert Bandura in 1997. The theory offered the explanation that the appropriate behavior can be achieved through learning through not only observation and modeling of the family behaviors but also from the roles people undertake at work and the leadership (Bandura, 1997). Therefore, through engaging in roles provided at the Parkville Youth Justice Precinct bakery and café, the youths will be able to learn responsibility and help prevent reoffending cases in the community.
Furthermore, the acting Minister for Families and Children, Martin Foley, indicates that education and employment provide learning opportunities to help youths stay connected to their families and the community hence reducing the chances for reoffending. Moreover, based o the economic strain theory, as developed by Robert K. Merton in 1938, provides that the strain experienced by individuals from economic pressure can lead the youth to engage in delinquent activities. The involvement of the youth in crime is highly proportional to the high rate of unemployment among the youths (Allen and Bradley, 2015, p. 42). Therefore, engaging in vocational training will increase the ability of the youths from the Parkville Transition Center to gain employment and reduce involvement in criminal activities.
Political Pressure on the Initiative
The political concerns for the development of the initiative involve the high unemployment rate coupled with the increased competition for the few job opportunities. There is a high likelihood of a fresh graduate from college gaining and employment opportunity than employing a rehabilitated individual from the correctional institutions. Therefore, the question of gaining viable employment opportunities in the community highly affects the implementation process of the initiative in the correctional institutions. Furthermore, most of the detention periods for the youths vary hence prevents full rehabilitation period for the youths, which might lead to wastage of financial investment in the initiative.
Amendments to the Initiative
The best solution to the political pressure expected would involve the development and strengthening of aftercare initiatives through including the second-phase of vocational training for the individuals with a shorter period in the correctional institutions. Furthermore, research has pointed out the importance continuum care and the inclusion of the family in the full rehabilitation process of the youths involved in the criminal activities. According to Hawkins and Kempf-Leonard (2010) family's full participation is important for the continuation of care and quality planning for vocational training of youths from correctional institutions.

References
Allen, K.R. and Bradley, L., 2015. Career Counseling With Juvenile Offenders: Effects on Self‐Efficacy and Career Maturity. Journal of Addictions & Offender Counseling, 36(1), p. 42.
Bandura, A., 1997. Editorial. American Journal of Health Promotion, 12(1), pp.8-10.
Brown, D.E. and Thakur, M.B., 2006. Workforce development for older youth. New Directions for Student Leadership, 2006(111), pp.91-104.
Greene, J.P. and Forster, G., 2003. Public High School Graduation and College Readiness Rates in the United States. Education Working Paper No. 3. Center for Civic Innovation.
Hawkins, D.F. and Kempf-Leonard, K. eds., 2010. Our children, their children: Confronting racial and ethnic differences in American juvenile justice. University of Chicago Press.
Hirschi, T., 1969. A control theory of delinquency. Criminology theory: Selected classic readings, pp.289-305.
Toby, J., 1957. Social disorganization and stake in conformity: Complementary factors in the predatory behavior of hoodlums. J. Crim. L. Criminology & Police Sci., 48, p.12.
Zabel, R. and Nigro, F., 2007. Occupational interests and aptitudes of juvenile offenders: Influence of special education experience and gender. Journal of Correctional Education, pp.337-355.