Juvenile Justice Issues

Juvenile justice in the United States is not without its problems. The fact is, there are a number of problems that face the juvenile justice system and there are a number of programs that attempt to address each problem. The hard part is selecting the appropriate program for the youth that will reduce recidivism and deter crime. This can be a daunting task if the justice system is to take on this on all by itself. The reality is that the justice system alone cannot even put a dent in the reduction of crime or reducing the recidivism rates of juvenile offenders. To accomplish this goal, it will take a team who will work collaboratively toward a common goal and keep the best interests of the youth and the community in mind. This paper will set

Numerous studies have revealed that individual characteristics of the juvenile and various other factors cane increase the probability of offending and may also predict substance abuse, teenage pregnancy, dropping out of school and other problems during adolescence and early adulthood (Listenbee, 2014). Although the risk of juvenile offending is dependent on the number of risk factors a youth experiences, the number of protective factors is also highly influential in determining whether or not a youth engages in delinquency (Church, Springer & Roberts, 2014). Risk factors include, but are not limited to the introduction of aggressive behavior in early childhood; the use or abuse of substances; the experience of abuse, neglect, and maltreatment at home; low levels of parental attachment; having a low socioeconomic status; or even involvement with a delinquent peer group. The above mentioned risk factors are only a few of the everyday things that can affect a child and cause some form of delinquency. There are protective factors that will inhibit the conduct such as having a positive or resilient temperament, a sense of self-efficacy, having that much needed level of parental involvement, and having a supportive family. Restorative justice programs integrate protective factors to eliminate the risk factors. For example, according to the FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin, this model keeps punishment in proportion to the criminal act by focusing on three basic principles: 1) offenders who commit a wrongful act deserve appropriate consequences; 2) citizens have a moral right to give criminals only the sentence they deserve; and 3) society must avoid punishing an innocent person. Restorative justice still can involve traditional disciplinary measures, such as fines, incarceration, probation, or a combination of all three (Newton, 2013). Restorative